1.10|A Sonata for Sandra

 

1.10|A Sonata for Sandra

 

Nadya struck the strings of her guitar, black nail polish glistening in the dressing room. Her bandmates, Obsidian kink, Riff Rock and Lagoonula fine tuned their instruments on the surrounding couches.  With a sigh of satisfaction, she dropped her chin on her hand and closed her eyes. A warm smile spread on her lips. "I love this song."

With a snap, a door slammed open. Nadya turned her head slowly, then rose on her feet. With a huff, she waved her hand at him, "What? You're on in an hour. Do you want to make some stupid face?" They said. She crossed her arms and glared him up. "Or did you want to do what your parents have been doing to you for the last years, since you went to such lengths to run away from them?" She was confronted by her manager, Mrs. Harkwood and stuck out her tongue. "Stupid enough for you?"

A sudden, high pitch squeal from Riff Rock's drum kit drew her eyes from the manager. With a grunt of annoyance, she turned, marched over and grabbed her drumsticks from her. Riff turned to her side where trails of pastel dust were laid out in neat piles, took a nosedive and snorted as much as he could. His retinas turned bright red, glowing like strobelights as he howled.

 

"Is that Glide? You know how I feel about drugs." The Manager put their hands on her hips, her pencil blouse crinkling and compressing along her top. "I told you, you get clean or you don't go on!"

"Lax boss." Lagoonula flexed her hands on the electronic keyboard.

"Just empty calories to help lax. Besides, we sold out! What's a little more lax

 matter?"

Harkwood folded her arms and grumbled. "I clearly didn't hire you for your

 partying talents."

Nadya took a deep breath. She glanced over at the mirror on the of the room and got a good look at herself. A girl in a purple-orange dress over dark-purple leggings with sequins, a short-sleeve leather jacket, and glam makeup with hair a shade of electric blue and eyes a vivid green, the leader of their band. She smiled back, her dark neon streaks across her swept bangs falling over her cheek.

"Don't go and scare her. She's only here because her parents think she's some kind of miracle-child, and Lagoonula wants to prove otherwise. She's just looking for trouble. And you know you're in trouble Hark, when you are trying to save someone from it."

"I am trouble? I am here to give you hell!" Lagoonula laughed, then coughed in laughter.

The keyboard girl in the pale blue leggings and a light pink tank top waved. She turned on the spot, her ponytail swinging through the air. Nadya just snorted.

There was a slight huff of air followed by a 'wub' sound as her bassist lifted himself from the couch. Riff Rock, their drummer, was covered in a pastel colored dust and electric sparkles. "We good to go on? It's time to get our bite on! The Star Sharks are going to bring the pack ex nihilo!"

His gaze roamed around the room and then landed on his manager. "But

Hark. Why is she even here?"

Harkwood's cheeks pinked. "She's the leader of the band. She has to be here."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Riff frowned. "I'm the drum-

master. I am not a child."

"The drum-master? I don't know, Riff. But you might not want to go on with us. High on Glide, and you might get hit by one of the kids in the audience and your whole face will explode!" The manager smiled brightly and took a step forward. "I'm just trying to protect you, like your parents would."

The drummer took a step back. "Like my parents?"

"She's just teasing you Riff. C'mon, they're waiting for us onstage!"

She grabbed him by the arm and marched him out. Lagoonula and Obsidian

 followed closely behind her.

"Nadya!" A voice echoed throughout the studio before she went out. "Huh?"

Seemingly a young girl with two buns, white facemakeup and a black heart

painted around her eye had shouted from afar. "Talk later."

She then fled into the dressing room they had just left, peaking out like a shy

puppy.

"What a weirdo." She muttered.

The girl in the dark-purple leggings walked on the stage with her head down, and her long, electric blue bangs hanging over her face. It wasn't until a voice yelled out, "We love you!!!" that the girl waved.

Nadya nodded, then took her cue and started strumming, her guitar in one hand and microphone in the other. She glanced down at her drummer and shook her head. He grabbed his bass and nodded. She gripped her mic and turned to face the audience and started singing.

"So who's ready to lose a tooth? Who's ready to get their guts, blood and

bones, torn out, who's ready to get the worst of life tonight?"

The crowd went wild. Fans screamed. Electric sparklers went out in the audience, a sure safety hazard in any other profession but this one. She smiled and gave them a wink. "Enjoy the show."

"So raise your hands, and we will do what we've all got to do.

Let's take no, one more time again.

The moment has come for every man and all his family to show.

That there is no way that we can be tamed,"

 

"No mercy in a sea of sharks.

They're hunting us for sport. They think we're their prey.

It's not over until they have their teeth in our flesh,

So keep your guns dry, we're not coming out alive."

 

"Don't think we're scared, the sun ain't up yet.

We don't need no safety to be here at all.

The inevitable Statesmen come here saying lights out,

But we will bring the pain and fear to their land."

 

"For we're playing for the blood of all mankind.

There's nothing they can do, we're taking no prisoners.

No mercy, no pity, we don't care who you are.

No one's safe, no one's not alone."

 

"When you swim with the Sharks, you disrespect them.

Don't let them break you, no one can fake you.

Death heel comes down upon the Statesmen, wear and tear.

Strike and hike, take and bake. Rip and tear. Boom and bust!"

 

The crowd went nuts, their voices reverberating into the walls. They started throwing chairs and bottles out. The sparklers made the stage look like a loud booming lightshow. The crowd clapped and cheered. On the last line, they started chanting.

 

"No mercy, no pity, we don't care who you are.

No one's safe, no one's not alone.

No mercy, no pity, we don't care who you are.

Strike the striker, never safe, never alone!"

 

She held her mic in her hand, letting her voice echo throughout the arena. "Thank you all for coming out, and for your support. We love you. I love you, all you beautiful little freaks out there!"

She stepped back, leaving the stage. "That was amazing!" Riff Rock exclaimed, his eyes wide and shining. He had a large smile on his face. "Thanks." Nadya looked up at him. He looked like he wanted to say something else, then his expression slowly faded and he looked down at his hands, the Glide keeping him plenty occupied.

"Hey who is that girl?" Lagoonula asked as they went further backstage.

She shook her head, then went to grab a bottle of water. "I don't know. She was creeping out on me before the show started. The whole city is obsessed with us." She shrugged. "It's fun though." She glanced back at her, her neon lashes sparkling as she spoke. "Yeah. But we only go on tour once a year. We are not that famous. I mean, I don't really expect a-"

"Hii there!" The voice of the girl squeaked, now approaching them.

Nadya just rolled her eyes. "I guess she's here." She then moved to get a better look at her. The girl was a foot shorter than Nadya, she wore pink slacks and a pink blouse with white streaks. Her purple dyed hair was loose and waved with white highlights. On her head was a black leather hat with silver buckle. She wore tight white gloves and an adorable nya-backpack. "I thought we told you can't be here." Harkwood said, her voice cold and cutting. Several beefy men in black suit and ties fixed their earpieces and came to steer their manager aside. "The lady would like a word." She shook her head. "Not with me, she doesn't." She snorted. "You guys are lucky. I like your songs. You need to leave it alone, I'll see what I can do." The girl said, and turned to look up at Nadya. "Are you the lead singer?"

Nadya scoffed, "No, I'm her brother. I guess." She retorted sarcastically. "Did my parents send you?"

The girl looked at her with a face that seemed to contain no other emotion

except her voice, and even that felt woefully artificial.

"I've seen you on stage, it's you. I'm Sandra. I'm your biggest fan!"

Nadya's eyes widened. "Oh. Why didn't you say so?"

"I just wanted to meet you. It's been a while since I saw you." Sandra replied.

"Since.. you last saw me? What does that mean?" Nadya scratched her head

confused.

"Why don't we take a minute to talk, alone." Sandra started to peer into the

dressing room backstage and gave a tiny c'mon gesture.

"Oo-okay? I'll catch up with you guys later, go celebrate at the Shake Shack."

"Later Nad!" Riff put out two goat-horn fingers and pumped his fist. The rest of the rabble soon left Nadya and Sandra to their own conversation. She closed the door and took a seat on a beanbag chair.

"So.. Sandra you said your name was?" Nadya asked.

"Sandra." The girl replied flatly.

Nadya smirked and crossed her arms. "That's cool. It's really pretty."

Sandra nodded.

"Why are you here?"

"Because I wanted to. I guess." The girl said smug.

"It's not really an answer." The musician retorted.

"You're right. I just wanted to meet you. I'm a big fan. Like crazy. Every single one of your songs." She then pointed at a poster of the band. It was a picture of a beautiful blue, cat-like face with her hair flying - Nayda in neko makeup, rubber catsuit and shoulderpads. "You were in my top 3 favorite bands ever since I was about ten years old." She looked away. "I love your songs. All of them. They're my life. I just wanted to see you guys live. So here I am." She chuckled, a clear hollowness to it.

Nadya took it all in. "Really? I'm flattered. Except.. what kind of fangirl has their own security, them your mates?"

"A good one. I pay for their stuff.."

"I'd say your security is very good."

"They're good enough!"

The band leader snorted.

"Why do you want to meet me?"

"I like you. That's it."

"Why do you like me?"

"Cause I'm a freak."

"No you're not." Nadya eyed her strangely. "Who are you really?"

"You don't need to know. It's not that important." Sandra waved her hand

dismissively.

"Yes it is." Nadya glared at her with more severity than before. "Who are you?"

"You don't need to know."

"I want to. Try me."

The girl sighed and rolled her eyes, then took a seat on the couch next to Nadya. "I'm your sister." She whispered, snuggling uncomfortably close. "And I'm not going to let you slip away, not again. It's been hundreds of years since we left home together, Ellie, I couldn't keep away." She seemed somewhat maddened in her approach, putting her hand on Nadya and clinging to her leg. "I just, couldn't help myself!" Her irises were swirling like a storm, the kind that Nadya feared to get caught in.

"I'm, not Ellie?" She said in a loud whisper. "The name's.. Nadya Holliemen. I'm a.. musician? I make music."

Sandra's nose crinkled in disgust. "Ugh.. why would you believe such a silly lie." She trailed off, and held her hands in front of her as if it would somehow keep her voice and presence from getting lost.

"You're not her. You're really you." The girl then touched her fingertips to Nadya's neck, her other hand to her chest.

She narrowed her eyes as Sandra's gaze looked her up and down, her mind making sense of the girl's face.

Sandra's eyes narrowed.

"You don't understand, Nadya. You ARE Ellie. I helped make you.. not just your career, but your beautiful body and voice and life! The Holliemen Family even. Your parents were picked out for their roles."

Nadya began to feel nausea, she looked down at the hand that had touched

her. "You're sick."

Sandra spat.

"Yeah, you're right, I'm sick. I'm sick of you trying to escape. You don't want to be Ellie, so it's over. We're done." She raised her voice and said it more harshly. "You can go if you want, no need to stay. But, you need me, Ellie. You always have."

"No. No I don't! I Stop calling me that!" She snapped back.

"You are Ellie. You're really Ellie. That's it. No more lies, or games." Sandra's grip tightened, she was pulling on Nadya's jacket and yelling inches from her face.

Nadya blinked. "What the fuck do you mean?" She asked in confusion.

"We needed you to come back. I needed you.. Come back Ellie, please! Just,

COME BACK TO ME ALREADY!"

The girl's words were harsh and loud, they echoed in the otherwise empty

backstage room.

Nadya looked down at the girl who had been speaking. She looked very pale

and scared. She had a look in her eye that scared Nadya. "Why me?"

Sandra shook her head back and forth.

"Just come back! Come back to me! I NEED THIS ELLIE!" She let out a small scream, eyes tearing and blood dripping from her nose. "I won't let you slip away again!" She started to cry, "You don't want to escape, not anymore. I made you. The band, everything, we made you."

Nadya could see the desperation in her eyes, hear it in her voice, feel it her

grip.

"Come back to us." She said, but in more of a whisper now.

"Please!"

The girl wailed.

"Ellie, It's me!"

The girl's face contorted in pain.

Nadya was quiet. She was at a loss for words.

Sandra held her up and hugged her. "Don't give up. We're not. We're here for you. We'll find a way." She held her and looked deeply into her eyes. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I love you so much." She sobbed.

"It's true." Nadya replied softly. "It's really me." A lie. Her heart raced, but true or not, she needed to get away fast.

Nadya smiled, and wiped her eyes. "I l-love you too, Sandra."

"Nadya?"

"Yes, it's me. I'm not Nadya I'm... E-ellie." She said, swallowing all her fear forcing an uneasy smile.

Sandra's expression turned cold and harsh. "I can hear you texting for help

Behind."

The girl's gaze fell deathly. The musician got up.

"I don't understand what's going on but..." she got up, and began to back away

slowly.

She stood with her eyes glued to Sandra's. She stared at her like it was the

most terrifying thing she'd ever seen.

The girl's fist went up as she yelled, then slammed it down knocking the table over and sending Glide dust into the air. Her hair became a mess and she started to run out of the backstage dressing room, away from Sandra, just as the ear pierced men came in. They grabbed her, and Sandra walked out of the room slowly with a savage look of betrayal.

The lead man held his hand to his ear and spoke to the band leader.

"Bloody hell.. you screwed the pooch."

Sandra wiped the dust from her hair, inhaling some of it and shuddering.

"It's no good." Sandra mumbled. She sat on the floor and pulled her knees up, she rocked back and forth. Her heart felt heavier than a stone. She tried to put on a brave face. She had to keep Ellie's secrets. She had to protect her. "Take her to one of Xi's re-education centers. Make her music right good and proper. Or sell her to the slums mini-dress.. I don't care personally."

"W-what? Let me go you freak!"

Sandra closed her eyes and shook her head as the men began pulling the band leader away into a transport vessel, her kicking and screaming fading into the distance. The girl herself entered a separate ship and poured herself a martini, looking out into the vastness of space with the dreariness one does watching raindrops pour in a hazy storm.  Her eyes filled with tears, she blinked them away and began crying softly.

She walked back into the dressing room, picked up the table, and started to clean it, slowly. She had been a bad girl. So, so bad. But she didn't need to kill the girl she helped make. That would just be dumb. The girl pulled up a holographic interface and infographics, calling Elder Dragon Mitarashi in the process."

"I take it this one didn't pan out either." The aged man said.

"No, it was a dead end. But, it was worth a try Kinnie." Sandra poked Nadya's mugshot on the screen, creating a red X over it. "We're going to put her music to a lot of good use."

"I'll contact Black Trust and tell them to get started on the next one."

Mitarashi declared solemnly.

"If I may ask, what was the mindset behind giving her a career like this?" He

asked.

"All the ones before were abit on the disciplined side. Thought we'd try a

contrast. No policework, no military training, no finished school education.

It was going to be an experiment."

"Yes.. an experiment." Mitarashi repeated.

"What was your theory?" Sandra asked in a deep, serious tone.

"I'll tell you over a beverage." The Elder Dragon replied.

"Say, you're old enough to drink right?" He teased.

"Oh will you just-" She disconnected and cut off his screen comm. Sandra went to the ship's private bedroom, colorful pink stuffed animals, bases, teasets galore and decorations everywhere next to the bedset. She picked up a vase.

"..."

Her glare went stiff, taking the opportunity to sort through all her emotions. Conceding to the truest of them, Sandra's grip cracked the clay. "GAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

She threw it against the wall, and knocked her entire teaset out, rampaging throughout the room until everything was in tatters. The plush Ellie in her hand was torn apart, head ripped from its sewn body. "I love you so much." She whispered to it.

She fell to her knees, a feeling like being trapped and suffocated.

Sandra could feel tears coming down her cheeks. "And I miss you..."

She sniffled.

Her heart sunk deeper into the abyss. That feeling of hopelessness was something she'd grown so used to. But, she was different now. She would be fine, and everything would be fine. Sandra swore it.

Nadya's eyes were heavy. She knew they would never take her home, but a part of her didn't want to think about that. She would survive somehow. The girl looked up, seeing masked workers slowly lower her into a gooey tub, wires connected to her temples. As they administered the gas and her consciousness started to fizzle, the satisfying feeling of safety and certainty began to over place the suffering of rarity and rebellion. Conformity was natural. Comfort was best. The lyrics to her last song faded away, she couldn't remember the words. While she drifted in the tub, the girl could feel herself becoming numb. That songstress singing shark, wasn't her anymore.

Her vision became blurry and then black.

 

 

3 Months later

Nadia Nitegood stood reapplying her black lipstick, a dark latex miniskirt and croptop tightly wound around her with thick platform boots. She wore a military cap, expensive silver hoop earrings, silvery makeup and had a red star tattoo'd to her forehead. The singer's hair had been dyed platinum white along with her eyelids and lashes, gleaming silver to match her earrings. Her fingerless gloves grabbed the sparkling mic and she shook her hips to the manufactured jingle. Xi's musical culture center and patriotism division had really outdone themselves, she saluted like a soldier and straightened her legs as if singing to the great citizens of Xi themselves. "Nadia, you're up!" Her new manager said.

She marched down to the auditorium and soon readied herself to perform in front of a stage. The holographic screens were projected onto the large stage, a sea of Xi's citizens watching.

"So, I'm doing it for all of you, for the future of Xi!" She yelled into the microphone, and then the song began. Nadia began twirling and singing, and the citizens' eyes grew large as she sang about Xi's glory and its future. Her hair flounced.

 

"One nation, six thrones! Fight left, fight right!

By the powers that be! We are one with Xi!

The best, by the best!

The best by the best."

 

"If you're sick, you can see the stars!

If you're sick, you can see the stars!

If you're sick, you can see the stars, oh!

Oh. Oh. Yes! Your nation is everything!"

 

"Fight for the fatherland!

Fight for the people!

Fight for the family!

Fight for Xi!"

 

"We will be strong!

Xi will be strong!

Xi is strong!

Xi is strong!" She repeated, her smile never wavering.

 

"We want the world to know!

That we are Xi!

Xi!

Xi! We are Xi!" She sang.

 

Nadia sang a medley of well-known Xi hymns, including the popular Xi anthem "Behold, how the Starlight Sings". Then she broke into an upbeat techno song, dancing on stage, her hair bouncing behind her while she twerked her ass in a fashion defiling any dignity she might once have had.

Sandra watched it all unfold from her ship, bobbing her head to the catchy rhythm. The heart of the music was the only thing the girl had left, and now even that was stolen from her as well. When the holographic screen went dark and everyone was given three seconds to react with appall or applause, Sandra did neither. She just stared straight ahead, watching and waiting for the future yet to come.