The Enigma of Music
(Disclaimer: I do not own the artist, the names, song titles and any of the other references. This is a fan fiction for entertainment and promotional use. No copyright intended.)
(Disclaimer: I do not own the artist, the names, song titles and any of the other references. This is a fan fiction for entertainment and promotional use. No copyright intended.)
Check out these talented artists below
HybridGothica
Dysphobia
and don't forget the merchandise
https://theenigmatng.bandcamp.com/
https://shop.spreadshirt.com/TheEnigmaTNG/
https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/158183-hybrid-fantasy#
"Music: it is the way of life, it is the weapon of choice, it is the prime healer of emotion or the destroyer, it is the tool to bring you beyond the barriers of the human mind depending on how you use it." - The Enigma TNG
Megan rubbed her green eyes as sunlight shone
through her bedroom window. It was the weekend and she had no work or school.
Slowly, she got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. She turned on the
sink and cupped cold water in her hands. The invigorating feel of the water
woke her up. After washing up, Megan walked to the kitchen for breakfast. She
reached for a pan and grabbed frozen bacon strips from the fridge. The tangy
smell of bacon entered her nose as she made her breakfast. Feeling like bacon was
not enough, she made herself sweet cinnamon toast. At last, she poured orange
juice into a cup and sat down to enjoy her breakfast.
After brushing her teeth and her blonde
hair, Megan walked to her office room where her laptop awaited. Opening it up
and typing in the password, she checked her emails. Nothing interesting; it was
mostly spam with a couple messages from her family. Her face fell when
her father reminded her to get math homework done. The math problems and
numbers in her textbook turned into blurry symbols, the longer she worked.
“This is so boring,” she complained. “I’m going to take a break from this
numerical nonsense.”
She pulled up YouTube on her laptop. As
she was about to type, she heard the pitter patter of footsteps. "Hi
there, Nyx," she said as her black cat came into the room and jumped on
the windowsill. Wanting to try something different than the pop music and the
soft trance that she listened to, she typed in “dark electronic music” and hit
the search button. One of the videos that appeared was titled: “Six hours
of dark electronic music”. ‘How interesting,’ she thought. Of
course, she was not planning on listening to six hours of it, but she wanted to
check it out anyway.
The first thing Megan noticed when she
clicked on the video was a picture of a robotic woman on a blue background that
looked like it was from a science fiction movie. Immediately, a loud robotic
sound reached her ears and the electronic beat continued. ‘What kind of
music is this?’ she wondered. Gradually, different sounds mixed in
with the previous beat. Her head started nodding to the beat and she scrolled
down to read the song names and times next to them. Suddenly, her eyes widened
in amazement when she saw how many songs were listed: more than fifty of them
in one video! “Unbelievable,” she said. What was more peculiar was that unlike
other videos she had watched, there was no artist name labeled next to the
songs. Then, she read something that made her gasp aloud. At the bottom of the
list were the words: “All music created by The Enigma TNG.” ‘That must
be an amazing cyberpunk band’ she thought. As she read the comments,
she discovered that The Enigma TNG was actually one person! ‘How could one
artist make all those songs? He has some serious talent’ she thought.
Nyx jumped down from the window and rubbed against her legs. Megan bent down to
pet her companion, who was now purring.
Megan then looked at an icon in a corner
of the video and saw a man with braided black hair wearing a scampa skull mask.
His hypnotizing eyes glowed white with a hint of teal. It was creepy and cool
at the same time. She checked out his other videos, many of which showed
artwork tinted in shades of dark green. Apparently, he did music, digital art,
and original drawings. Megan browsed through his Saiyan Enigma channel and was
amazed at his fan made Dragon Ball Z tracks. They sounded like the music that
was in the show…probably even better! Each one seemed to have a life of its
own; capturing fighting scenes, heroes unleashing their power or the sinister
nature of the villains. Megan went onto her social media sites and contacted
her friends. They had to hear this unique sounding music.
Looking at a fan page for The Enigma TNG,
an announcement caught her eye. It announced that there would be a concert next
Friday at the local stadium starting at 7:00PM and lasting the whole night.
Megan checked the regular ticket prices and the VIP prices. The VIP prices were
more expensive, but they included front row seats and time for questions and
answers with the artist himself. The offer was too tempting to resist, so she
bought the ticket online. After managing to buy a backstage pass along with it, she called her friend Jasmine to ask if she would like
to come.
“Hi there, Jasmine!” said Megan. Jasmine
was already excited after hearing the news online.
“You show me this great new music
and then you say there is a concert coming up? I would love to come! I will
pick you up after work,” Jasmine said.
“Thank you very much! See you then,”
Megan said happily. Excitement and nervousness flooded her stomach and her
mind. Then the feelings went away as she stared at her unfinished homework.
A week passed and Friday arrived. Megan
packed her belongings, and looked out front. Yellow headlights appeared as
Jasmine parked her crimson car. Her curly red hair fluttered in the evening
breeze. She wore blue jeans and a gray shirt that proudly stated "Movies
make me happy; you, not so much." The friends greeted each other with
hugs, then got in the car. After giving Jasmine gas money, Megan talked about
work, school, future plans and society. Half an hour later, Megan's other friends, Kevin and Belle were sitting in the back seats. All of them
arrived at the concert and got out of the car. Standing in line felt like fifty years for Megan, but
eventually after paying and getting tickets, Megan and her friends were able to
get inside.
The curtains were closed but the crowd was already getting excited. Megan and her friends walked to the VIP section that had the best view of the stage. To the left of the stage, there was a
screen with a digital countdown clock. Megan’s heart started to pound as
the numbers ticked down. As the show got closer to starting, introduction music
played and lights around and above the stage started to flash. The lights were so
bright, Megan had to shut her eyes for a minute to get used to it. "Are
you sure this isn't a Skrillex concert?" asked Kevin, referring to the dubstep artist and the similar futuristic concert theme. "I think this
one might be better!" answered Jasmine excitedly. The audience waited with
baited breath as the curtain fluttered slightly. The cheering grew louder as smoke
sprung from vents by the stage. Blinding lights moved through the air in every
direction and at that moment, Megan felt sorry for people that had to deal with
seizures. Then, without warning, the curtain opened and fell to the floor. Crew
members quickly carried the curtain off the stage.
On the stage were turntables and a black
laptop. A black electric guitar rested proudly on a stand. On a large screen, a
white ball of light moved to the right, followed by glowing white words: The
Enigma TNG. The creator behind the video clip, HybridGothica, waved at the crowd, then took her seat near the front. The lights turned teal and spotlights landed on…
“Megan, look! It’s really him!” said
Jasmine pointing at the stage. Appearing on the stage was the musician himself,
minus the glowing eyes. Shoulder-length black hair crowned his head and a dark
mustache and beard circled his mouth. His clothing and leather jacket matched
his hair color and a thin silver necklace hung around his neck. Chocolate brown
eyes scanned the excited crowd under thick eyebrows. A brief nervousness
crossed his face, but it soon disappeared as the cheering grew.
Enigma walked up to the microphone,
adorned in black jeans and a dark band shirt. After making “horn” sign gestures
with his hands, he asked his fans, “How are my Monster Killers doing tonight?” The crowd answered
with loud cheers. He then said his well-known catchphrase: “Welcome to the
world of The Enigma TNG, where the mysteries of music become…reality!” This was
met with more cheers from the crowd. “It is so awesome for all of you to come,”
he said. “The first song that I will play is one my popular ones.” He made his
way to his laptop, put on black headphones and fiddled with the turntables
for a moment. “Everyone get ready for Monster Killer!” The electronic beat
started and the crowd started jumping. As the high voiced lyrics played, Megan,
Jasmine, Kevin and Bella moved to the beat and sang along. “This is freaking
awesome!” cried Kevin as he jumped up and down. Bella looked at him playfully
and rolled her eyes. Then a drum beat joined the words and slowly faster. The
beat speed up as the lyrics finished and the beat dropped a second later. Soon,
the whole crowd was dancing and waving their arms in the air. Enigma was moving
his head up and down, enjoying the music as much as the audience. The song
ended and applause rang through the room. “That was freaking radical!”
exclaimed Jasmine. She looked back at Bella and Kevin kissing and jokingly
stated “Get a room.” "Get a life," Kevin replied back with a smile,
then turned back to Bella. Enigma walked to the microphone and asked “How was
that song, to start off with?” The crowd answered with a thunderous cheer.
“That is great to hear,” said Enigma, “because I have more music for your ears
coming up!”
The rest of the concert was a wondrous,
yet somewhat chaotic experience. Megan was surprised that the ceiling didn't
collapse from the music and the shouts of the audience. Images of cyborg women
with outer space backgrounds were displayed on the screen. The artist's chosen
name "Hybridgothica" appeared in glowing white letters at the bottom
of the screen. After the crowd got accustomed to the dance music, Enigma picked
up his black guitar and played his next song. “Horn” hand gestures met with
iPhones from the crowd taking pictures and recording the show. The music
traveled through Megan’s ears and flowed through her mind. All her previous
thoughts and worries faded away, replaced by sound and feeling.
After a few more shreds on the guitar,
Enigma went up to the microphone and began to sing. The first song was loud and
intense, with dark red lights lighting the stage. Mechanical sounding music
played and the screen showed machines and robots fighting. The sound grew
louder faster as Enigma growled into the microphone. The crowd went crazy as
another beat dropped like the sound of a bomb. “Argh, I need some peace and
quiet,” recalled Kevin, clutching his head. "Not used to this noise."
"Don't you mean not used to this awesomeness?" Jasmine shouted back,
who was banging her head up and down. Kevin made his way around his friends and
went out the entrance for a break. Megan thought about following, but she
didn’t want to miss the good music. The loud singing sent chills up her spine
and adrenaline spread through her veins. Megan watched as several people jumped
and pushed each other near the front of the stage. Security guards dressed in
blue, lined the wall of the stage, keeping their eyes on the people in the
“mosh pit.” Enigma ended his song and the crowd’s roar was deafening. 'I
have never experienced a concert like this before,' thought Megan.
Once the brief intermission, Enigma went back
to his laptop and played several hip-hop songs. Orange lights danced across the
stage and the faces of the crowd. Everyone joined in as the rapping
performance continued. When the song ended, Enigma stepped up to the microphone
again. “Before I start my last song, is there anyone who wants to come up on
stage and play guitar with me?” A flurry of hands went up as a crew member
brought another guitar with painted blue flames to the stage. “Anyone at all?”
Enigma asked. “Let’s see…”
Kevin walked back down the steps, holding
a can of soda. His headache appeared to be gone and he admired the artwork that
was showing on the screen. As Kevin walked over to join his friends, Enigma
pointed to where he stood.“How about you back there?” Kevin stood agape and
dropped his soda, which landed with a splash on the ground. “Who, me?” he asked
aloud as the crowd quieted down for a moment. “Yes, you!” he replied with a
deep chuckle. “Do you want to play guitar with me on stage?”
Excitement and surprise quickly replaced any hesitations that Kevin previously had. “Oh my goodness, yes!” he said with an excited squeal. He made his way to the stage. He climbed the steps and waved at the audience. Picking up the second guitar, he looked at Enigma and whispered to him, “I-I don’t know how to play this thing.” He was holding the guitar as if he was afraid to break it.
“You will be fine,” Enigma answered. “Just watch me play and enjoy the moment.” Enigma positioned Kevin’s fingers on the guitar strings and whispered some advice. “What’s your name?” asked Enigma. “Kevin,” he replied. Enigma walked to the front and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for Kevin!” The audience screamed with excitement and your friend gave a nervous smile.
Excitement and surprise quickly replaced any hesitations that Kevin previously had. “Oh my goodness, yes!” he said with an excited squeal. He made his way to the stage. He climbed the steps and waved at the audience. Picking up the second guitar, he looked at Enigma and whispered to him, “I-I don’t know how to play this thing.” He was holding the guitar as if he was afraid to break it.
“You will be fine,” Enigma answered. “Just watch me play and enjoy the moment.” Enigma positioned Kevin’s fingers on the guitar strings and whispered some advice. “What’s your name?” asked Enigma. “Kevin,” he replied. Enigma walked to the front and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for Kevin!” The audience screamed with excitement and your friend gave a nervous smile.
Then the song started and Enigma’s voice
echoed through the room. Sweat formed on Kevin’s forehead as he fumbled with
the strings. As the music grew louder, Kevin’s confidence slowly started
to rise. He moved to the beat and his fingers strummed the guitar. “Now you are
getting it!” said Enigma to Kevin, who smiled. Soon, Kevin played and smiled at
the audience below, not worried about making mistakes anymore. The song ended
and the last sound echoed through the air. Kevin waved and gave a little bow as
the crowd chanted his name. “Thank you so much!” he said happily. Kevin gave
the guitar back to the crew member and Enigma gave them a side hug. Kevin was
then led off the stage by a security guard and met back his friends. “That was
incredible! I didn’t know that would happen!” Bella leaned in and gave him
another kiss. The lights darkened and the next part began.
The last song was slow, sad, and quite
beautiful. Stars and galaxies filled the screen and the lights turned a soft
dark blue. Enigma’s voice was smooth and soothing like dark velvet. Megan
closed her eyes and imagined flying through the universe. Comets flew by,
leaving blue dust trails and stars shone from every direction. She opened her
eyes and flashes of light appeared to be moving in sync together, back and
forth. ‘Wait, are the stars moving or is the universe starting to spin?’ she
asked herself. Then she realized that the audience was moving to the beat and
the lights came from their phones and glow sticks. Enigma had the audience
under a spell of sound, like a mitochondria controlling cells that worked
together. At last, the song ended and the screen faded to black. Applause rang
around the packed room. Enigma spread his arms wide, delighting in the
reactions of hundreds of fans. “Thank you all for your support,” he called out.
“Be sure to check out my YouTube channel and my fan page. Gamers, I am also on
Stream!” Enigma was met with more cheers as his logo appeared on the screen. “Be
sure to get my music and merchandise in the hall,” he called out as he went
behind the curtain.
Megan and her friends were clapping and
chatting like crazy. “Whoa, that was one of the greatest performances I have ever seen!” Megan exclaimed.
Bella rolled her eyes and said, “That was
great, but this one man band is not mainstream or worldwide.”
“Not worldwide, yet,” Megan replied. “One
of these days, he might decide to travel to perform in other countries. I am
sure he will become more well-known over time, no matter what he decides to
do.”
Bella added, “Although it would have been
more spectacular if he was with a band.” Not offended by this statement, Megan
shrugged and stated “Everyone has their own opinions and I respect yours.
However, I know that Enigma is doing fine on his own. He does what he does and
is great at it. It goes to show that one person has the power to make a
difference. It all starts with you.”
Kevin spoke up, “I wish I had an
ounce of his talent. Certainly, I have no special talent of my own.” “Everyone
is great at something,” assured Megan. “It just takes time and practice.”
Jasmine noticed all people walking up the steps. “Come on, let’s go get some
merchandise!” she said, leading the way.
The group of friends walked back to the room by the
auditorium entrance. There were white clothed tables with shirts and albums on
display. Waiting in line seemed like an eternity. The people in front were
buying items and asking questions. At last, Megan made it to the table, face to
face with Enigma. The shyness took over and she forced herself to not look at
her shoes. Trying not to fangirl too hard, she said, “Hi Enigma TNG! It is a
great honor to see you. I love your music!” “Thank you very much,” he says. “I
appreciate it.” After an awkward silence, Megan noticed his albums on the
table. Listening to his music on her iPod was amazing as it was, but to have a
signed CD was something else.
One of the album covers showed a
gothic-looking man wearing a black leather jacket with a spiked armband. He had
wild black hair that hid one of his white eyes. He held two swords in his hands
and the name “Vaden” was engraved on one of the swords, glowing blue. On the
top right corner, the album was titled: “The Next Generation” on a dark green
background. “Is that what ‘TNG’ stands for in your name?” Megan asked pointing
to the album. “Indeed it is,” he replied. “The Next Generation as in Star
Trek?” asked Kevin. Enigma and Megan looked at Kevin and Megan shook her head.
“Enigma is a science fiction fan, but it is stands for ‘the next generation of
music’” Megan explained. “Alright, then, I will check out the shirts over there,”
Kevin said, walking to another table.
Looking at the album on the table, Megan
got out her money and said, “I think I will buy this one.” “Excellent,” Enigma
grinned as he took out a marker and signed the cover. At last, the album was in
Megan’s hands with his signature scribbled in the bottom right corner. She
walked back to her friends, barely able to contain her happiness. “Thank you
for your support,” Enigma called out. “Hope you enjoy!”
As the majority of the crowd left, people
with the VIP tickets met Enigma backstage. By this time, Megan had another
album in her hand and a shirt with a robotic woman and the words "Hybrid
Fantasy" on it. Crews were putting equipment away and cleaning up the
area. Several security guards kept watch on the group of fans. Megan and her
friends were waiting in line to get their pictures taken with the musician.
Black curtains surrounded the area and overhead lights of red, green, and blue,
shone from the ceiling. Megan's legs started to shake and Jasmine was
trying to hide the redness in her cheeks. "Will you two calm down?"
asked Kevin with his arms crossed. "It's just a quick picture with another
person." "Says the person who squealed with delight after being
called to the stage," Bella teased, wrapping her arm around his waist.
"I didn't expect that to happen," he responded. "Well that's the
thing about life," added Jasmine. "We never know what's going to
happen. One moment you might be bored and feel stuck, the next moment,
opportunity comes..." "Next person!" called the camera person.
"...knocking on your door," finished Jasmine, who made her way to the
front.
As Jasmine stood beside Enigma, Bella
quietly remarked, "I didn't know it was possible that her face could get
redder than her hair." This earned her a light elbow nudge and a look from
Megan. "What?" Bella asked. After Enigma and Jasmine briefly talked
about video games, they turned to the camera. "Say 'milkshake!'" said
the photographer and the camera flashed. "Don't sing it, Jasmine, don't
sing it..." muttered Kevin. Sure enough, "my milkshake brings all the
boys to the yard..." could be heard among the chatters of the excited
fans. “What are you guys looking at?" asked Enigma playfully at a group of
fans staring at him. They burst into laughter as he widened his eyes and
briefly stuck out his tongue. "I have to say he is hilarious,"
mentioned Megan to her friends. "So adorable...no wait, adorkable,"
added Jasmine. "Hahaha, so funny" said Kevin who rolled his eyes.
"I didn't come here to watch love struck girls talk about their mysterious
new crush. I came here with Bella because she wanted to try something new in
terms of music." "Be patient, Mr. Complainer," teased Bella.
"Just wait until it's your turn to go up!" Kevin blushed and
nervously fiddled with his shirt, causing Bella to giggle.
Jasmine went to the side with the other fans
when she was finished and Kevin went up next. "Thank you so much for you amazing music, sir," he said to Enigma. "It was fun being on stage with you and
getting the guitar. I think I will expand from my mostly country music
tastes." "Don't mention it, Kevin" Enigma smiled. They looked at
the camera as the photographer said, "Say Kamehameha!'" A look of
confusion appeared on Kevin's face as the light flashed. "Excuse me sir,
but what is a 'Kamehameha?'" An awkward silence lingered in the air. The
photographer stepped out of the shadows and revealed a woman with short black
hair and tan skin. Her dress was midnight blue and her eyes were filled with
shock and irritation. She spoke in a calm, low voice to Kevin. "First of
all, you just had to assume I was a random man, didn't you?" Her name tag
read 'Penelope.' "Second, have you seriously not heard of the show Dragon
Ball Z? Especially with the star being a huge fan of it?" Kevin nervously
looked at Enigma. "It's no big deal," Enigma said to Penelope. He turned to Kevin. "I will give you some slack
if you haven't seen the show," said Enigma. Feeling excited from a random burst of confidence, Kevin declared "I love your music but country music is still the best there is!" A moment of silence occurred as Enigma's mouth slanted into a frown of disapproval. "How can you
seriously like that country music crap?" Kevin broke into a stuttering
fit. "Um, I'-I’ll just listen to jazz and pop instead!" He then ran
off to Jasmine in embarrassment. "Wrong genres!" one of the fans
called out as a chorus of boos and laughs rang through the air shortly after. ‘To
each their own,’ thought Megan.
After Penelope helped settle the crowd
down, it was Megan's turn to go up. Time seemed to slow down as she put one
foot in front of the other. "Hello again," Enigma said. "I
didn't get your name." "It's Megan" she said, trying not to look down at her shoes. "That was an awesome show!" "I
appreciate your support," he stated. She tried to keep her face as natural
as possible as she looked at the camera. Megan felt his hand on her shoulder
and pleasant chills spread through her body.
Finally after they got their picture
taken, Bella was next. She felt the same chills as Megan did and when she tried
to talk to him and she couldn't get words out of her mouth. "Next time I go
to a concert, I'm going with my guy friends, no offence," whispered Kevin.
"None taken," said Jasmine, noticing that he was feeling slightly
left out from the group. Turning from Enigma, Bella stared in front of her and
tried to hide a giggle. Penelope got the camera ready in front of Enigma and
Bella. "Alright, you two, say..." "Cheese!" Bella
interrupted happily and the camera clicked. Penelope face palmed as Bella went
off to meet with her friends. Apparently, Kevin making silly faces at her had
calmed Bella nerves earlier. "Q and A will start in 10 minutes!"
Enigma called out to the crowd. His face relaxed when he went backstage to talk
with a woman with long dark hair. Listening closely, she could hear them discuss Skyrim, Mass Effect, and other video games they had played. Jasmine watched as their hands slowly
interlocked. "Aww that's so cute!" Jasmine whispered as she help up
her phone. "Wait, Jasmine," said Megan, lowering her friend's arm that held
her phone. "No pictures right now. They need some privacy before Q and A
starts." "But it would look so good on my Instagram though! They are standing right there." "Well I see a security guard right there and it looks like he is
watching us," Megan countered. Sure enough, a guard was standing not too
far away, his eyes scanning them and the waiting groups of people. After giving
the situation more thought, Jasmine reluctantly followed Megan back to their
group of friends.
“One question at a time,” said Enigma as hands
rose in the air, moments later. His female partner, sat next to him as they answered questions from their fans who sat on chairs in a circle. After several
questions had been answered, Kevin decided to ask one to Enigma: “Who inspires
you?”
“Everyone does,” Enigma answered. “So many
artists inspire me. I can’t focus on only one thing. I love to blend different
genres together: pop, rock, electronic, classical, you name it! It is a great
way to bring different groups of people together. That is what music does, or
should do at least.” "I have a question," said another
fan." Do you have any advice for aspiring writers and game reviewers like
myself?" Enigma's partner smiled and spoke some encouraging words in French.
Penelope, who was sitting on a chair nearby, came over and translated it to
English.
Jasmine then asked a question, “What keeps
you motivated in your life?” There was depth and hidden emotion Enigma’s brown
eyes. “I would not be who I am without the help of my family, fans and friends.
Music keeps me sane,” he explained. “It is my escape from this crazy, messed up
world. I pour my heart and soul into my creations. I know that there are many
ignorant people in this world. However, I also know that there are good people
out there too. They are the ones who are willing to work hard, think of other
people’s needs and are not afraid to speak their minds.” All the people
Megan cared about appeared in her mind: her parents, friends, and her pet cat.
Enigma spoke again, “Anyone willing
to ask me one more question?” Finally, after gathering up courage, Megan
decided to ask a hard question. “If you could do a soundtrack for any video
games or movies, which ones would you choose and why?” After thinking it over,
Enigma answered, “It is too hard for me to choose. There are so many games and
movies I love.” “Do more music for Dragon Ball Z!” said a fan, who was met by
cheers of encouragement. “When will you do more Dragon Ball Z?” asked another
fan. To that, he answered with a mischievous grin: “That was the last
question. Who knows? Keep an eye on my channels to find out!”
"Anyone who wants to give me hugs,
handshakes, or high fives, is welcome to before you go," Enigma called.
One by one, the fans gave Enigma quick hugs. Some of the fan girls jumped with
delight, while some of the guys enjoyed side hugs, handshakes or high fives. One
guy gave Enigma a big hug and said, "Thank you, man. Your music changed my
life!" Megan’s turn came after Jasmine. "Would you like a hug?"
Enigma asked. "Yes please" answered Megan, her cheeks turning pink
and a grin on her face. She closed her eyes as muscular arms wrapped around
her. The hug was as genuine as one from a friend and like many hugs, it felt
good. All too soon it was over. Enigma broke the embrace and hugged the next
person in line. Filled with a mix of elation and sadness, Megan followed her
friends, who were holding merchandise they bought. After the crowd left, the
two YouTube stars smiled and embraced in a tight hug.
Megan and her friends met back at the
parking lot. “Whoa, what a concert!” she exclaimed. “That headache didn’t stop
me from enjoying the show,” said Kevin. “Enigma deserves much more views!”
added Jasmine. They looked at Bella and she said “It was alright. Though I
would have preferred going to a country concert with Kevin and myself. Those
are great!” “Yeah, so great, they can make you die of boredom,” retorted
Jasmine as she and Megan laughed. Megan’s excitement from before was fading as
she got back into the car with her friends. Today was the first and likely the
only time she would get to see one of her favorite musicians. Yet, she knew
that would be hearing more music from him soon. The sounds of the crowd and the
lights faded as they drove away.
Generalizations for fun
You know you are an Enigma TNG fan when...
1. You enjoy Dragon Ball Z more than the average Joe
2. You blast his music any day but especially on New Year's Day.
3. You developed a love for black cats.
4. Fighting video game boss battles with his music is an intense experience.
5. "Monster Killer" was not made by Skrillex
6. "Monster Killer" was NOT made by Skrillex
7. You explain for the nth time that "Enigma" is not the other great band and that "TNG" does not refer to Star Trek.
8. You practice singing "Mysterious Girl" for a future night with your date.
9. Watching cyberpunk films/listening to cyberpunk music is one of your favorite past times.
10. "Mysteries of music become reality" is an inspirational quote for you.
(Part
2) Scenes from the Ether
I
do not own the artists and the references. No copyright intended.
19
years later. May 2042
One
of the interesting things about dreams is that they have a beginning, yet it is
impossible to remember how the beginning started. The dream goes by in a blur,
like a film on fast forward. At least, that was how Kevin experienced his
dreams. Although he had decided to do some meditation at the yoga studio
to relieve some stress after a long day at work, he wasn’t sure whether the
images in his head were actually dreams, visions, or memories. At the moment,
Kevin assumed that they were a combination of all three. After different images
flooded his head, his thoughts slowed down enough for him to process one story:
a memory of his early childhood.
Kevin
was frolicking around his backyard as a little boy, little brown curls on his
head. His younger brother, Milo imitated his movements and laughed. “Fruit
punch is ready, my boys!” called a friendly voice. Sitting on a chair on the
patio was their father; a large man wearing boots, dark gray pants, and a white
buttoned shirt. A white cowboy hat was perched on top of his head. Kevin and
Milo ran to sit next to their father, two glasses of cold punch waiting for
them on the table. As their father hugged them, a warm smile formed behind his
brown beard.
“When is mommy coming home?” asked Milo. “I
want to play catch with her.”
“Your mom will be home from work soon,” their
father said. “How about I play you a country song after you two do your
chores.”
“We already did them,” declared Kevin.
“Are
you sure?” asked their father. “Kevin, have you mowed the lawn?”
“Check,”
Kevin said.
“Milo,
laundry?”
“Check,”
he said, raising his hand to his forehead in salute.
“Fed
the dog?”
“Check,” the two brothers answered.
“Washed
the dishes?”
“Um,” said Milo, trying to remember. “Well
you’d better get to it before your mom comes home. She’s working hard up in the
city and I tended to the chickens yesterday.”
Milo’s
face showed a mixture of disgust and fear. “But, but I don’t like getting
baths,” whimpered Milo. “We’ll take care of it,” said Kevin. “It’ll be fine,
Milo.” “Thank you,” said their father. He gently tickled Milo and he giggled.
“Come on, Milo,” said a smiling Kevin.
The
glow from his childhood faded and was replaced with various pictures from his
Spiderman comic. In his life, it was one
of the things that got him through tedious hours of homework and brief periods
of loneliness. He liked to imagine himself as Spiderman’s close friend and
additional sidekick, one with determination so great that not even long hours
working as a grocery store clerk could let him down for long.
The
feelings of confidence faded as the next memory appeared. A gang of middle
school guys sneered at him outside by the playground. Kevin’s brown boots, dirt
stained jeans and plaid shirt contrasted with the leather jackets, chains,
studded belts, and band T-shirts that the older teens wore. “You’re not from around here, are you?” asked
the older one who appeared to be the leader. He had pale white skin like a
vampire and an orange streak in his black hair. “I’ve been here for a while,”
replied Kevin. “Well get lost, redneck,” said a dark skinned guy in the back.
“Why should I?” Kevin asked. “Because you’re conservative trash,” he replied.
“You get dirty like farm animals, you get caught up in your religion, and your
taste in music sucks!” Kevin stared in disbelief. As far as he knew, his family
had been nice to everyone they met, whether it was helping planters by their
rural home, or greeting passerby in the city by their new home. His family was
moderately religious but far from being strict and judgmental. As for his taste
in music, Kevin liked his preferences just the way they were, and he made sure
to tell the bullies just that. Taking a deep breath, Kevin locked eyes with the
leader like a superhero facing a villain. “I love my family, my beliefs and my
taste in music, so why don’t you leave me alone!” The guys looked at each
other, then back to Kevin. “I don’t see why we should do that,” glared the
leader. “Let’s teach this snob a lesson.”
The
leader’s friends snickered and formed a semicircle around Kevin. Kevin put one
foot forward and his arms out protectively. One of the guys ran back to the
door and disappeared inside. Kevin felt himself being lead toward the
yellow-bricked wall. Thankfully he was not being backed into a corner. “I found
it!” said a voice from inside. Kevin turned around, expecting a student or
better yet, a teacher to come and put an end to this situation. Instead, it was
one of the leader’s friends who held a red electric guitar. He bent down and
plugged it into a nearby outlet. ‘What are those idiots doing?’ wondered Kevin.
The guy tested the guitar, then swiped his fingers across the strings. “Let’s
get this battle started!”
The
bullies whooped and hollered as they swung the first several punches. Kevin
dodged one, but the second one had hit him hard on his right shoulder. He
kicked the leader in the leg, which caused him to stumble briefly. Kevin felt
pain under his chin and gasped. It felt like someone had thrown a stone at him.
Kevin elbowed another guy in the chest but it didn’t seem to do much against
his bulky biceps. Looking around, he spotted an opening to the right of the two
guys. He made a run for it… only to find a crowd of students blocking his way.
They were chatting with excitement, many of them pulling out cell phones from
their jean pockets. A hard fist met Kevin’s stomach and he doubled over. He
blocked another fist with his arm, only to feel another one hit him moments
later. The guy inside was jamming on the guitar and yelling with all his might.
The sound was jarring to Kevin and it felt like the ground was shaking under
his feet. Cheers, jeers, and laughs spread throughout the crowd. The small
holes on their phone cases looked like extra small eyes, watching him, and
judging him. A swinging of a foot caused Kevin to trip and fall onto the gray asphalt.
“Make it stop!” he cried, covering his ears and closing his eyes as if that
alone would make the pain and noise go away. Kevin felt his hands being held
against his back. The leader leaned his face toward him, his breath reeking of
cigarette smoke and a predatory look in his eyes. Kevin braced for the final
blow. “Hey! That’s enough, all of you!” a voice rang out.
Surprised,
the leader turned to his left and saw the gym coach and a teacher march over to
them. “Everyone back up and move out!” called the gym coach, spreading her arms
out and dispersing the crowd. The music came to an abrupt stop. “Let’s get out
of here!” said the leader. His friends quickly followed suit, Kevin’s hands now
free. “You boys just earned two hours of detention tomorrow plus fifty
pushups!” yelled the coach, chasing after them. Kevin found a soft hand grab
hold of his. “Are you okay?” asked the teacher, helping him up. It was his
English teacher, who had long brownish blonde hair, a pair of blue glasses on
her face and kind eyes. Her name tag read Ms. Fisherman. “Yeah, I think so,” he
said, wincing at the pain. He glanced at her name tag. “Though I would say that
I don’t like to fish.” That earned him a small laugh. “Yes, I don’t like my
last name very much. Oh well, life has its way with all of us. Let’s get you to
the nurse’s office.” “Thank you,” said Kevin, a grin forming on his face. Who
knew a superhero like him would get saved by his smart pretty teacher? She was
his first crush he ever had, but no other woman held his heart until he had met
Bella in high school.
The
school scene faded and this time, there was empty darkness. It was the weird
state between sleeping and being awake. Before long, he was in dream world
again. This time, he was back at his high school prom. Most of the boys wore
black tuxedos with neckties of different colors. Kevin remembered his outfit
being black pants, a nice white shirt, a black tuxedo and a red necktie. A
white rose sat in his left pocket. Some of the more adventurous guys wore
tie-die tuxedos that would have made them great dance partners at a circus. Kevin
walked through the archway of white and pink balloons, feeling slightly
nervous. The people inside were doing a mixture of dances. Some couples
practiced their ballroom dancing, others took a chance at square dancing and
others jumped up and down like little kids having too much candy. The girls
wore dresses of various lengths and colors; crimson red, sky blue, forest
green, among many others. It would have looked like a scene out of a fairy tale
save for the dull colored walls and floor of the gymnasium along with the
cheesy pop songs blaring through the speakers.
Out
of all the girls, he found the one that was his diamond in the rough. His
friend and love, Bella walked over to him, wearing a dress the color of pink
cotton candy. A silver flower necklace hung around her neck and her silver
earrings sparkled in the dark. The dress gave Kevin a good look at her soft
smooth shoulders. “You look beautiful,” breathed Kevin. “Sure, lover boy,” she
teased. “Where were you?” “I’m sorry, I was late. My dad had a rough week at
work and we couldn’t afford a limo to come pick you up…” Bella rolled her eyes,
not buying into his story. Kevin sighed in defeat. “Okay so I was nervous about
asking where you lived because I didn’t want to sound creepy or anything. I
also had to finish some chemistry homework beforehand. Sorry about that.” Bella
laughed and shrugged it off. “It’s okay Kevin. I wanted to go to the prom with
my friends as a backup plan. I haven’t seen them in a couple of weeks anyway.” Speaking
of her friends, two ladies came up to join them. Jasmine had her curly red hair
in ringlets. Her dress was dark green and went down to her knees. “Flirting
with the guys again?” asked Kevin. “You know it!” she replied. “Or perhaps you
don’t know me well after all?” “At least she’s not overdoing the red,” Bella
muttered. Megan looked cute and gorgeous in a dress in different shades of
blue: ocean blue at the helm, electric blue in the middle and sky blue at the
top. “You look amazing,” Kevin complimented. “Thanks,” Megan said. “This party
is fun, but I wish it had more kinds of food and music.” “I agree,” said Kevin.
A pop song ended and a soothing tune took its place. “I’m going to sit over
there and wait for a faster song. See you later peeps!” Jasmine strode over to
the food and drink table, catching the eyes of the guys nearby. Megan followed
Jasmine, anxious to get a drink. Taking a deep breath, Kevin held out his hand
to Bella. “May I have this dance?” Bella smiled and took his hand. Together
they stepped forward and backward with graceful movements…for a brief moment.
“Ow,” Kevin muttered as Bella accidentally stepped on his shoe. “Sorry,” she
said. “It’s hard dancing in these heels.” Bella and Kevin danced away for most
of the night, locked in each other’s eyes. For them, they were the only ones
there. Bella leaned her face closer to Kevin’s. He never noticed her beautiful
red lips until now. This could be their moment. Their lips nearly met…then the
gym lights came on, blinding the couple. “All right everyone, show’s over. It’s
midnight,” said one of the staff members through a microphone. A few groans
came from some of the students, but everyone gradually made their way out.
The
four friends walked out the front doors, using their cell phones to light their
path. Megan let out a yawn. Jasmine was talking happily about the dance. “Wow,
this event wasn’t too bad! I danced with several guys from the soccer team and
man, they were digging my moves! Those two lovebirds were too distracted to
watch the fun!” She mentioned to Kevin and Bella. Kevin and Bella giggled to
themselves. Everyone got home safely, thanks to their parents. Kevin said
goodbye to Bella with a long warm hug. He planned on kissing her in the next
couple of days once he gathered up his courage.
The
scene faded to black and Kevin saw the lights on the tall glass buildings he
now recognized through his window. There were greenhouse buildings to the
eastern part of the city, green vines and plants hanging from the balconies.
Inside, there were mini farms, where vegetables, fruit, and grain were
harvested to feed an ever-growing population. Hyper trains sped off on two main
highways, taking passengers to their destinations in minutes. Clubs, offices,
bars, sports arenas, schools, hospitals, government buildings…they were all
there in a maze of metal and light. Kevin looked to his left to find his blue
holographic alarm clock. It wasn’t there. In his previous dreams, Kevin had
done his best to ignore the vivid images that blurred with his memories,
leading to fairly accurate representations of his past. However, Kevin knew
that he always kept his alarm clock next to his bed. This wasn’t a memory, this
was something else.
To
test his surroundings, he put his hand up to the window. Instead of feeling
glass, his hand went through the window pane. He tried the same thing with his
foot and didn’t feel the pull of gravity. Kevin walked through the window and
didn’t fall. He used this opportunity to fly through the air instead. He felt a
rush of imaginary wind through his hair as he zoomed past the buildings and
over the electric cars. He felt as free as a bird, or even better, a superhero.
He scanned the area with his now enhanced eyes, but there was no one for him to
save. “Darn it,” he muttered to himself. “There’s always next time.” The glow
of the full moon added to the lights of the majestic city. Feeling the wind in
his hair, Kevin enjoyed a taste of freedom.
All
at once, the hustling and bustling noises of the city ceased. The world seemed
to come at a full stop before him. Kevin jumped in the air, but he could longer
fly, much to his disappointment. There were no buildings and no trees to be
seen. Instead there were hundreds of stars as far as the eye could see. Nebulas
of blue, red, and many other colors added to the beauty of the vast universe.
Thankfully, Kevin could breathe and not feel the intense heat from the balls of
gas around him. At one point, he saw a shooting star fly by. As usual, Kevin
closed his eyes and wished for good luck for his two children and his wife,
Tiffany. After he made the wish in his head, he felt the familiar empty sadness
of losing the people he loved. He had lost Bella to distance and a changing of
interests. He had lost his brother Milo, who was training at a base to prepare
for a potential threat to the human race. Most tragically, he had lost his
loving mother to a disease that should have been curable with the new
technology. Even with half of the deadly diseases eradicated, the new ones grew
more resistant than ever. She had died at a young age of 65. ‘I miss all of you,’ Kevin thought. ‘I promise I will make the best life I can
for myself and my family.’
A
faint noise made Kevin open his eyes. He looked around, searching for the
sound. He figured it was rumbling from the stars forming, or being destroyed.
Heck it could be the partiers from Mars and the Moon. As an introvert being
comfortable on the ground and used to his own culture, Kevin had no interest in
traveling to either planet. As he walked on, he heard the noise again. As the
noise kept repeating, Kevin figured out it was music. More specifically it was
three long notes, low, high and low again. Kevin thought back to the tunes he
commonly heard in the city. A handful of them had been k-pop, refined dance
music, and, most recently, cross-cultural sounds. It wasn’t unusual to hear
Arabian and Indian tunes join together to create a sense of exotic wonder.
Mexican and African beats, when mixed together well, invited the listeners to
dance freely, with an appreciation from both cultures. Entertainment was not
lacking with the melodic battles of European, Russian, and United States music
together. Even music genres seemed to blend together more than before. Yet,
there was something…restricting about it. It was as if different sounds were
mixed together in a systematic way with little passion. Emotional pieces were
out there, but they were few and far between.
The
music that Kevin just heard was…unique to say the least. “Bella?” he called
out. “Jaz? Megan? Dad? Anyone there?” No answer. He stared out into the
distance, the endless sea of black before him. “Who’s there?” he called. He
concentrated on his hands and soon found a sparking bolt of electricity in his
right hand. ‘Cool!’ he thought.
Leaping from out of nowhere was a furry black cat. Its yellow eyes looked into
Kevin’s eyes. The cat let out a cheerful meow. Kevin breathed a sigh of relief
and the bolt vanished from his hand. “Hi there,” said Kevin, holding out his
hand. “I won’t hurt you. Sadly, I don’t have any treats. Wait a minute.” He
concentrated on his hand and dry pieces of cat food appeared. “Here you go,”
said Kevin, tossing the kibble to the cat who gobbled them instantly. He
stroked the cat’s soft fur, earning a purr for his deed. The cat was wearing a
blue collar. Kevin bent down and examined the words on the tag:
Name: Allura Clawins
Location: Beyond the Stars.
Number to call: 01777-7-461.
Kevin was downright confused. Dreamworld or
not, he was sure that no such number existed. Kevin figured that the place he was in was “Beyond
the Stars,” but it did not make any sense. Then again, it was his dream. The
dream scenes were moving by fast, even though it felt like hours to Kevin.
As
the dream continued, Kevin felt vulnerable in the starry place. He was
surprised that he hadn’t encountered monsters from his previous nightmares as a
child. “Alright,” said Kevin, imagining the yoga studio. “In a few moments,
I’ll wake up and get myself out of…great Scott!” Kevin flinched back in fright.
As if on cue, the music grew louder as Kevin was faced with a menacing looking
man. Judging from his appearance, his outfit dated back to the late twenty
teens and early twenty twenties. His clothing blended in with the darkness of
space: black shoes, black jeans, a plain black shirt and a black leather vest
to match. A tattoo of a white dragon with scales and metallic features covered
up both his arms. His black fingerless gloves had white finger bone decorations
on them. A black face mask covered his mouth. Two chain necklaces hung around
his neck for added bling, though his shoulder-length electric blue hair also
helped him stand out. The most unsettling features were his eyes…they glowed
pure white with a hint of teal. It felt like those eyes were peering into
Kevin’s soul, analyzing every flaw, and reading every thought in his head. “Who
the heck are you?” Kevin asked. The strange man didn’t respond.
A
confused Kevin stayed where he was. “Can you speak?” asked Kevin. Instead of
answering, the man was focused on a point in space. Black flames erupted in one
of his hands. He placed his palm in front of him and clutched his fingers as if
grabbing onto a wall. White cracks spread from his hand and spread out until an
outline of a circle appeared. He removed his hand and pieces of space fell
away, revealing empty white space. Kevin stood frozen in awe and terror. “Why
are you ripping the fabric of reality…or whatever world this is?” cried Kevin. “You’ll
put us in danger!” He imagined a ball of
electricity forming in his hand. Sure enough, the yellow ball had appeared; not
hurting his skin, but making his brown hair stand up slightly. With all his
might, he threw the ball straight ahead like a baseball pitcher. Still focusing
on the white space, the man caught the ball in his left hand. As Kevin watched
the man clutch the ball, the electricity died down and the light turned black.
He opened his hand and out dropped a black ball of yarn. Allura ran over to it
and started batting it playfully with her paw. “What the?” gasped Kevin. The
man turned around to face Kevin. “Look,” stated Kevin. “It is clear that I
don’t know who you are. What exactly are you trying to tell me?” Kevin felt
something heavy in his hands and positioned his arms to hold it up. In his
hands was an old black guitar decorated with streaks of blue flame. A faint
signature was scribbled near the bottom of the guitar. A black cord ran from
the guitar to somewhere else in space. He ran his fingers across the strings to
test the sound. Low strums echoed across the void. “I have seen this guitar
before,” said Kevin. “I remember playing it somewhere, but I can’t
remember…wait a minute…”
His
mind flashed back to his years of early adulthood… the summer of 2023. Memories
of the concert came back to him: the flashing of teal lights, the cheers of the
crowd, the adrenaline pumping through him as he was called onto the stage.
“Wow! You’re that Enigma guy! The Enigma TNG, right?” The man gave him two
thumbs up. “Are you alive or dead?” Kevin asked. Enigma just shrugged his
shoulders. “Okay then,” said Kevin, still confused. “I’m just going to assume
that you’re some magic spirit in this crazy outer space world of yours. Or is
it mine since it’s in my head?” The white empty space started to change. Kevin
put his hand through it but he could not feel anything. Colors and shapes
morphed in the space, unaffected by his hand. He pulled his hand back and
watched some more. Soon enough, an image of his city appeared against a
brilliant blue sky. Sunlight shone on the metal and glass, creating rainbow
specks of light. His city was a utopian cousin of Atlantis. The picture zoomed
in to everyday life in the city: people driving to work, children playing in a
park, couples kissing on benches. A group of tourists were putting on space
suits and getting ready to travel up a giant glass elevator to the moon.
Several ladies were shopping at a nearby mall. With a push of a button, their
comfortable everyday bodysuits shifted to match the silver dresses they were
looking at. Kevin had to catch himself after staring for a while.
The
scene changed to show people dancing in a futuristic night club. Instead of the
k-pop songs that usually played, Kevin heard a dubstep song that sounded
familiar. He found himself singing along and dancing when the beat dropped.
After a moment, he realized that the music wasn’t coming from the speakers at
the club. It sounded like it was playing directly in his ears, even though he
didn’t have headphones on or ear implants in. Kevin looked over and saw Enigma
bobbing his head to the beat with his face mask now off. He was enjoying an ice
cream sundae in a glass that had appeared in his hand. “Let me guess, more of
your magic?” asked Kevin. Enigma nodded, pleased that Kevin was enjoying his
music. “Can I have an ice cream sundae too? Kevin asked. Apparently he could
develop a sweet tooth in his vision. To his dismay, an empty glass appeared in
his hand. “Really?” asked Kevin. He concentrated hard and an ice cream sundae
was now in his glass. “Ha! Beat that!” declared Kevin, scooping the tasty cream
into his mouth. Chinese food in a white takeout box appeared in Enigma’s other
hand. “Somebody needs help,” Kevin claimed, only half-joking. In opposition,
Enigma shook his head and pointed at Kevin. “I need help?” asked Kevin, who
crossed his arms. “I don’t think so! Oh yeah, I do need help getting out of
this strange dream!” Enigma tilted his head toward the image of the city. “Yes,
that is the place where I live! Can I get back to it now?” Enigma briefly
pointed at the image. Kevin sighed in frustration. “In case you haven’t
noticed, GNT, I tried going there, but it’s just an image within a dream, all
wrapped up in confusion. If you have any other ideas, I would be glad to hear
it!” This time, it was Enigma’s turn to get annoyed. The air around him turned
several degrees colder and Kevin thought he saw sparks of lightning appear and
disappear around him. Kevin held up his hands. “I’m sorry, man! I didn’t mean
to get frustrated at you. I said part of your name wrong, didn’t I? My bad. I
just really want to go back and…what is that?” Kevin turned his eyes to the
image of the city which looked different than before. Plumes of smoke rose from
the ground and polluted the once blue sky. The green grass and trees he saw
before had vanished and were replaced by factories and towering power plants.
Crowds of people roamed the streets, many of them jabbing at their holograms
and microchips that were no longer working. Homeless individuals searched for
food in dumpsters or huddled close together to keep warm during cold nights. In
a store window, young-looking androids in model poses were on display clad in
nothing but panties for the females and boxer shorts for the males. Wealthy
consumers eyed them with hungry looks on their faces; clicking buttons in the
air to pay for them on their wearable holograms.
In
the factories, young workers, both robots and humans, carried heavy packages
and put them on shelves. Others sat at desks in the back of the room, filing
holographic papers. At the top of the hierarchy, businessman sat at a large
desk, arguing over which of their products was the best. Kevin was shocked to
find the citizens of his now dystopian city sharing insults and some getting
into fist-fights. The animalistic faces appeared in and out of the motion
picture, their critical eyes seeping into Kevin. Several high screeches of a
guitar accompanied the grotesque images. Kevin looked back at Enigma. Although
his mouth was covered up again and his glowing eyes were blank, he could sense
the raw anger coming from Enigma and his music. ‘So this
is what he meant,’ thought Kevin. ‘He
said that my people and I needed help. He’s trying to warn me of something.’
Other
clues added to the horrific nightmare Kevin was witnessing: a murky river here,
a pile of used needles there, a coughing dark-skinned woman pleading for her
life, only to be rejected by the doctors she was trying to see. Kevin wasn’t
sure he could take the overwhelming feelings flooding through him much longer.
A husband was hugging his male partner before walking into the distance. The
children held on to their other father, with worried looks on their faces. ‘The war,’ Kevin thought. ‘The one that my parents and my neighbors
often talked about during stressful times.’ On a dry, cracked battlefield,
generals were shouting orders to groups of soldiers in metallic armor and
bulletproof vests. One man barely missed an explosion that had been caused by a
grenade. Screams of war and terror accompanied the intense metal sounding music
that Kevin was hearing around him. On the other side stood the enemy army,
consisting of men with unnaturally large muscles, large eyes, and porcelain
skin. A robot with a head shaped like a bull was giving the orders. The rebel
humans fired their guns, tanks, and rifles, but their hits barely scratched the
empty soldiers. They didn’t stand a chance against the sonic blasts and the
plasma guns of the genetically advanced beings. Corpses of the fallen comrades
littered the ground, while piles of ash covered other areas. Kevin saw the dull
tan sky before the vision faded to black.
Kevin
looked back at Enigma, whose eyes were downcast. “Are you trying to send me
a message?” Kevin asked. Enigma nodded. “These events are not real right?”
Another nod. ‘But those events could
happen,’ thought Kevin. The music had changed to somber piano music that
was slower. Kevin saw a teardrop roll down Enigma’s check. His previous hard
demeanor was gone. Kevin, too, was starting to feel concerned about what his
future might hold. Enigma lifted his head and looked at Kevin. At that moment,
Kevin had an idea about what was happening. Enigma’s online persona from the
past was, indeed, warning Kevin about dangerous possibilities in his future. Both
of them knew why Enigma wasn’t speaking. ‘He
doesn’t need to,’ thought Kevin. ‘Music
is his language. That’s how he communicated his feelings.’
Just
then, Kevin saw his loved ones appear in golden light around him: his
supportive father under his cowboy hat, his brother Milo all grown up with a
sense of duty, beautiful Bella in her pink dress, Tiffany and his two children
counting on him, brief memories of his mother. Enigma moved his finger in front
of him, indicating Kevin and his family and friends. ‘We are a new generation,’ thought Kevin. ‘It’s up to us to help save the next generation.’ Enigma gave him a
nod of approval, Kevin not surprised that he could read his mind. Or was Kevin
reading his own mind? Kevin didn’t have
time to ponder long; the universe was starting to fade. His loved ones flew off
in different directions, like golden shooting stars. “Come back!” cried Kevin. Enigma
winked at him, then disappeared among the stars along with Allura.
Kevin
jolted awake in the yoga room. He had been meditating and must have fallen
asleep. Out of all the sessions he had been too, this one had been the most
profound. He rubbed his eyes and stood up, feeling relaxed and motivated. It
was true that Kevin could help fix some of the problems in the city with the
help of those close to him. If not that, than at least get more people aware of
the socially constructed differences between the privileged and oppressed
groups. The question was, how?
Kevin
looked to the side of the room where his travel bag was. Kevin walked over and
opened a black case that was beside his bag. Sure enough, the guitar was right where
he had left it, many years ago. Sandy gray dust coated the outside and specks
of the blue paint had been chipped off with time. With musical instruments constantly
being changed by new technology, the guitar looked like some old artifact.
However, Kevin liked to think that some things in the past stay with people,
for better or worse. In a comfortable environment like this, it was easier to
think positive. That was why he dreaded going back to work in a cycle of
stress, urgency and a ton of paperwork.
Tiffany
walked in from the front door, wearing her usual business dress of black and
white. “Kevin. Have you been in here for this long?” “How long was I
meditating?” he asked. “Only for two straight hours! The kids need help with
their algebra homework and extraterrestrial studies assignments. Also, there is
an extra load of laundry and another bill to be paid.” Kevin sighed. “They
started 4th and 5th grade. I thought algebra was
introduced in middle school and extraterrestrial studies doesn’t start until
mid- high school.” “Never too early to get a head start,” replied Tiffany.
Tiffany
stared at the guitar in the case. “What is that doing here?” she asked as if it
were a foreign object. “It was a guitar I have kept in my closet for a while. I
was thinking about showing it to the kids tomorrow…” Tiffany bore a look of
mild disapproval. “I appreciate you doing more things for Joey and Adina, but
they don’t have time for arts and crafts.”
Hearing
those words made Kevin wince. Science and math were critical in this world, but
apparently free creative expression did not fit into society’s equation. “I
would give the guitar away and focus on your work, Kevin,” Tiffany suggested.
“Have
you been watching TV and HoloLink videos in your free time?” Kevin asked.
“Yes,”
said Tiffany. “I don’t see what big deal is. Let’s go home. We have a busy day
tomorrow.”
‘This isn’t like you, Tiffany,’ thought
Kevin as he followed his wife out the door. ‘You
are not the fun-loving person you once were when I met you.’
The
couple walked over to their green and silver electric car, which was next to a
charger. “Did you charge the car Kevin?” asked Tiffany. Kevin looked and saw a
wire lying on the ground. Tiffany pressed a button and “low battery” flashed in
red letters. “Kevin, you forgot again?” “I’m sorry! I had a rough day at work
and I was so focused on giving myself a break.” “Wait here,” said Tiffany as
she plugged the car in. “Charging in progress” glowed in yellow. “I need to get
something from the store real quick.” “All alone at night?” asked Kevin, noticing
the indigo sky. “Face-modifier, remember?” She clicked a switch that was
positioned in the collar of her shirt. Her face became pixelated until it
looked like Kevin’s. Kevin stared back at his green eyes, brown hair and beard.
“I hate it when you do that,” he mentioned. Tiffany headed to the nearby
MegaMart and Kevin leaned back against the car. Thankfully, the starry sky was
still and fairly clear.
Deep
in the night, Kevin heard noises coming from behind a nearby wooden fence.
“Ow!
Watch where you’re going!”
“We
don’t have to listen to you!”
“Leave
us alone!”
Being
curious but wary, Kevin sneaked toward the fence and looked in through a
peephole. He saw smaller figures being pushed around by larger figures. As his
eyes adjusted to the darkness he could make out the individuals. Two
individuals, one with dark skin and one with light skin were standing close
together, trying to defend themselves. The three bullies, two male and one
female all had flawless skin, thick hair, large eyes and wore outfits that
looked like a cross between a school uniform and a business suit. “You two
losers don’t belong in this city,” said one of the bully guys. “You might as
well find jobs if you can…if the interviewers are willing to hire genetic mutts
like you!” mocked the female. Leslie and Marquis were starting to shake with
fear. “We are not mutts!” declared Marquis, clenching his fists. “We are human
just like you! Or should we even call you that!” “Former humans who now have
cold robotic hearts,” added Leslie. “Well, at least we won’t have to worry
about heart disease as much as the underclass,” remarked another bully with
disdain. “Just back off!” said Leslie. “I don’t see why we should do that,”
replied the female. Kevin was taken back to the horrible moment when he was
cornered by the rocker bullies. He could see his fear reflected in the young
teenager’s eyes, despite the darkness of the night. “Let’s teach these punks a
lesson!”
As
the bullies closed in, Kevin unlatched the gates and stepped inside. “No,” he
said. The bullies turned around. “Are you one of those mutts too?” asked the condescending
guy in the front. A growl threatened to burst from Kevin’s throat. The bullies
had guts and stupidity at disrespecting a middle-aged man older than them. “Who
cares if I am?” Kevin asked. “I think you brats need to head on home, or I’ll
call the police. “Go ahead,” sneered the blonde female. “They would be more
than willing to arrest those who haven’t evolved with the rest of us.” The
bullies snickered at the remark while pointing at the two victims. “Well
tonight, I’m the police,” claimed Kevin. “And this is my uncle’s old property
you are standing on.” This got the bullies to go quiet. The shadows that formed
on his face from the glow of his hologram watch added to the dramatic effect.
“I’ll give you to the count of five. One…two…” By the time he reached three,
the jerks had already vanished into the night.
The
black-haired girl pulled her friend along. “Let’s go, Marquis,” said Leslie.
“Wait, it’s okay,” said Kevin. The friends stopped in their tracks, reluctant to
trust him at first. “Are you two alright?” “Yeah,” answered Leslie. “Thanks for
saving us back there. Those meanies have picked on us ever since the first week
of school.” “I’m sorry to hear that,” said Kevin. “You are not alone.”
At
this point, Leslie and Marquis grew more comfortable around Kevin. “Don’t listen
to anything the bullies or anyone else say to you,” said Kevin. “They will
never be the brave, intelligent, humane people that you are.” “Thank you sir,”
said Marquis. “Call me Kevin. Say, do either of you like art and music?” Both
of them nodded with enthusiasm. “I have something for you.” He gently placed
the guitar case in Marquis’s hands. Leslie helped him hold it up. “This was my
guitar that I’ve had for a while. I got it at a concert from the twenty
twenties.” “Wow! That was a long time ago!” exclaimed Leslie. “It felt like it
was yesterday.” Said Kevin with a sigh. “It might need some tuning and
polishing but I think it works alright.” “Cool!” said Marquis. “I can’t wait to
try it out. Hey, we should start a music club at school. Math and 21st
century history has gotten boring!” “I agree,” said Leslie. A car horn sounded
in the distance. He hear Tiffany call “Where
are you, Kevin? Come on!” The light in her car now read “charging complete” in
green letters. “I have to go,” said Kevin. “Hurry on home.” “Thanks again,”
called the two teens who then ran off into the distance. ‘Why do some parents let their kids stay out so late?’ he wondered.
Kevin
walked back to the car, fatigue in his legs, arms, and mind. At the same time,
he felt a comforting feeling in his heart; the same feeling that occurred
whenever he did a good deed for someone else. He stared at the crescent moon in
the sky. There was more work to be done, for sure, but what was progress
without motivation and hope? He got into the car with his wife and together,
they drove away.
Bonus: Memes and extra TNG stuff for fun (For fellow Monster Killers)
*Lucas from "Stranger Things" season 1 holds up a rock. "Now this is the monster killer!"
The Enigma TNG: "Now let me stop you right there..."
Original image by The Enigma TNG:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi88E1kes0Y7bq4fv33TIPQ
Enigma
TNG song title sequence (7-21-17)
Welcome
to a World of Enigma, where Angels and Demons roam. Some say it is a Dark Age
where man is ruled by Gods and Machines, others say it is a Dreaming Utopia,
where one could look at the sky and see Beyond the Stars. But I know the truth.
For it is our world, a mixture of Light and Darkness, but above all, a World of
Madness. Inequality looms like a Gray Wolf in front of our oblivious Faces. The
privileged thriving in a Deceptive Metropolis preoccupied with Wars of Power,
while the rest of us are pushed Closer to the Void and soon enough...Outside of Time. I am not an average person. Indeed, I am an Outsider in
many ways. In moments of despair, I search for the Beauty in the Darkness, any
trace of hope. I see the good in others and encourage them to never give up.
Rise of technology, increasing diversity, new conflicts…are not a Future
Fantasy anymore. The hunger for profit and discrimination cause Devastation
before my eyes; tears of the lost pour like a Rainfall. I sense The Power
Within Me as I Close My Eyes, my friends and family by my side. To battle the
monstrosities of the world, one must be a Monster Killer and face the problems
rather than avoid them. I am Just Like You, and when we go through life with
common sense and decency, it may be our One Last Hope one day. We are one
Universal Mind caught between complex reality and our mental fantasies. I will
raise awareness of the many issues and live my life to the fullest until My
Last Breath. I only hope that The Next Generation will have the courage to
Speak Their Mind.
Bonus: Memes and extra TNG stuff for fun (For fellow Monster Killers)
*Lucas from "Stranger Things" season 1 holds up a rock. "Now this is the monster killer!"
The Enigma TNG: "Now let me stop you right there..."
Original image by The Enigma TNG:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi88E1kes0Y7bq4fv33TIPQ
Generalizations for fun
You know you are an Enigma TNG fan when...
1. You enjoy Dragon Ball Z more than the average Joe
2. You blast his music any day but especially on New Year's Day.
3. You developed a love for black cats.
4. Fighting video game boss battles with his music is an intense experience.
5. "Monster Killer" was not made by Skrillex
6. "Monster Killer" was NOT made by Skrillex
7. You explain for the nth time that "Enigma" is not the other great band and that "TNG" does not refer to Star Trek.
8. You practice singing "Mysterious Girl" for a future night with your date.
9. Watching cyberpunk films/listening to cyberpunk music is one of your favorite past times.
10. "Mysteries of music become reality" is an inspirational quote for you.
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