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Return to Valjiir Continum
Noel DelMonde sat with Jilla Majiir in the recroom of the Enterprise, tuning his guitar to match that of her lyrette. Geoff Redford was already at his keyboard, and Sharon Intansah was playing a muted riff on her bass guitar as Mrraal set up the final pieces of his drum kit. Ruth Valley had been delayed by some work the Science Officer had given her, but Cataclysmic was in a playing mood, Ruth or no Ruth.
As usual, the room was full, more crew crowding in to hear the always-appreciated entertainment. Daffy Gollub was having a relatively quiet argument with Pavel Chekov near the back of the room, though DelMonde clearly heard the jist of it – ol’ T-Paul been flirtin’ again. He gonna lose that li’l gal if he not open his eyes. Lieutenant Commander Sulu sat at the closest table, a cup of coffee in his hand, apparently ignoring the presence of Ensign LiLing at the next table – who was just as apparently not ignoring him. The emotions tumbled over Del’s shielding, and he glanced at Jilla, wondering how the Indiian could not be reacting to it.
You a damned fool, he thought to the helmsman. Lord, if I had me somet’ing sweet as that to go home to ev’ry night…
Sulu shifted in his seat, and DelMonde was sure the almond eyes had flashed his way.
“What are we playing?” Redford asked.
“I t’ink I know jus’ the t'ing,” the Cajun returned. He leaned back, consulting quietly with the other musicians, who nodded – though Jilla’s skin shimmered ever so slightly.
Geoff began a repetitive duet of chords, Mrraal keeping time with the cowbell on one of the stands of his kit. Jilla’s lyrette gave a haunting accent, like the howling of alien wind or some far-away grieving animal. With his eyes closed, Del began to sing:
I have stood here before inside the pourin’ rain
The instruments all came in, filling out the sound into a melancholy yet dynamic whole.
Geoff, Sharon and Jilla added a soft haunting response:
The chorus was repeated with all four voices.
For once, Del let the emotions swirl around him, breathing them in like clouds of Rigellian smoke. They touched him, becoming his own, feeding his ever-present despair: Sulu’s anger and bitter realization of how closely the song could be applied to him. Jilla’s naked anguish, for once laid bare with no cloak of Vulcan reserve. LiLing’s smug, hungry arrogance. Daffy’s incongruous insecurity and Chekov’s total unawareness of it. Other thoughts, other trials and pains and sadness…
When the door hissed softly open and Ruth walked in carrying her guitar, it all intensified.
Ruth was frowning at the choice of songs, but she took a place in the chair next to Del, easily slipping her guitar-work into the music, joining in on the chorus.
She was glaring at him as he began the bridge.
Del’s voice nearly caught in this throat.
Jilla took the instrumental lead, the Vulcan sounds giving the melody a very non-Human, otherworldly feel. Then Geoff’s keyboard gave a counter melody as the drums, bass, and two guitars kept time.
The music abruptly stilled, only the haunting of the lyrette and Del’s voice continuing.
Do you have to be so melodramatic? Ruth sighed in annoyance.
Non, cher, Del responded with a mental glance at the helmsman who was leaving the rec room. This time it not about me.
King of Pain by The Police
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“There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday
There's a black hat caught in a high tree top
There's a flag-pole rag and the wind won't stop
With the world turnin’ circles runnin' 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hopin’ that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain”“There's a little black spot on the sun today…” Del began again.
“It’s my soul up there”
“It's the same old thing as yesterday,” the lead continued.
“It’s my soul up there”
“There’s a black hat caught in a high tree top”
“It’s my soul up there”
“There's a flag-pole rag and the wind won't stop”
“It’s my soul up there”“I have stood here before inside the pourin’ rain
With the world turnin’ circles runnin' 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hopin’ that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain”“There's a fossil, it’s trapped in a high cliff wall,” Del started again. The response came as before:
“It’s my soul up there”
“There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall”
“It’s my soul up there”
“There's a blue whale beached by a spring tide's ebb”
“It’s my soul up there”
“There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web”
“It’s my soul up there”“I have stood here before inside the pourin’ rain
With the world turnin’ circles runnin' 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hopin’ that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain”“There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out”
Iocasta!
“There's a blind man lookin’ for a shadow of doubt”
Give it up, T-Paul.
“There's a rich man sleepin’ on a golden bed”
An’ it should stay silver, Kam.
“There's a skeleton chokin’ on a crust of bread”
“There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack”
“It’s my soul up there”
“There's a black-winged gull with a broken back”
“It’s my soul up there”“There's a little black spot on the sun today
The instruments came back in, full and driving.
It's the same old thing as yesterday”“I have stood here before inside the pourin’ rain
With the world turnin’ circles runnin’ 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hopin’ that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain”"King of pain
King of pain
King of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain . . ."The End