The Devil Went Down to Georgia

Posted on Fri May 26th, 2023 @ 8:10am by Captain David Tonelly [Reece]

Mission: Karaoke
Location: MWR Tent
Timeline: MD 6 / 2115 hours
1165 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

David had been sitting in the Common Tent all night, trying to not think about Baeryn lying in the Medical Tent in a coma. He still couldn't get a straight answer as to what had happened after he had safely gotten her from their destroyed cabin to sickbay, prior to the evacuation of the ship. All he did know was that she was fine one moment, the was being summoned to Sickbay on an emergency call, because she had slipped into unconsciousness, and later, into a coma. All that he was told for certain was that both her vitals, and the vitals of their unborn daughter, were stable and strong. The medical staff had told him that hovering by Baeryn's bedside would not do him any good. After going round and round a few times, a compromise was made. If David left the medical Tent for a few hours, and found a way to decompress, he could stay by Baeryn's side until he was needed elsewhere.

So, here he sat, in the Common Tent, watching various crewmembers and civilians get up in front of everyone and use the karaoke machine. Some were good, some not so much. The Commodore's adopted daughter, he thought, had been surprisingly very good.

He finally decided to give it a try. He hadn't sung karaoke since the late 1980's afterall. He knew he had a decent singing voice. How bad would he do?

Looking through the song catalog, he saw several he knew, several he didn't. Then he froze, a slight grin ticking up the left corner of his mouth. To do this one, he'd need something, again, not something he had used since the late 1980's. Excusing himself, he made his way to the nearest replicator. After inputting his request, the items flashed into existence. After picking it up, he made his way back to the Common Tent.

After putting in his request, he waited his turn, the case he had with him getting a few curious glances.

Finally, it was his turn.

Stepping up onto the small stage, he placed the case on the empty stool that everyone had been sitting or leaning against as they sang. "Hi," he said into the microphone. "I know the use of an instrument is odd when doing karaoke. However, it's something that I used to enjoy playing, so, I hope you'll bear with me. It's been a few hundred years since I played." He then accessed the karaoke computer and typed in a few commands. Next, he turned back to the open case and reached inside, pulling out a beautifully replicated fiddle and bow.

He tucked the fiddle under his chin and, after his fingers and bow were ready, jerked the bow across the strings, filling the room with an uncomfortable screech.

Looking out at the crowd, he gave them a sheepish look. "Sorry," he said quietly. He then tuned the instrument for a few seconds and tucked it back under his chin.

After taking a few breaths, he played a few, much softer and pleasing, notes.

Looking out at the crowd again, he took another breath. And played.

(Beginning instrumentals)

He played quickly and expertly, the crowd rapidly getting into the mood of the song. Then, he started to sing the words.

The devil went down to Georgia,
he was lookin' for a soul to steal.
He was in a bind 'cause he was way behind
And he was willin' to make a deal

When he came across this young man sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot,
And the devil jumped up on a hickory stump
And said, "boy, let me tell you what"

"I guess you didn't know it but I'm a fiddle player too.
And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you
Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy
But give the devil his due
I'll bet a fiddle of gold against your soul
'Cause I think I'm better than you"

The boy said, "my name's Johnny and it might be a sin
But I'll take your bet, you're gonna regret
'Cause I'm the best there's ever been"

Johnny, rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard
'Cause Hell's broke loose in Georgia,
and the devil deals the cards.
And if you win, you get this shiny fiddle made of gold
But if you lose, the devil gets your soul.

Each time the instrumentals came on, David played along perfectly.

The devil opened up his case and he said, "I'll start this show"
And fire flew from his fingertips as he rosined up his bow
And he pulled the bow across the strings
And it made a evil hiss
Then a band of demons joined in
And it sounded something like this.

David nodded his head with the beat of the bass violin, then came in, playing the part of the Devil on the fiddle.

When the devil finished, Johnny said, "well, you're pretty good, ol' son
But sit down in that chair right there
And let me show you how it's done"
"Fire on the Mountain" run boys, run.

Now David switched playing styles to portray the part of Johnny.

The devil's in the House of the Rising Sun
Chicken in a bread pan pickin' out dough
Granny, does your dog bite? No, child, no!

The insrltrumental was loud and very powerful. The crowd was were on their feet and cheering along. As the playing slowed, David went back to singing.

The devil bowed his head because he knew that he'd been beat
And he laid that golden fiddle on the ground at Johnny's feet
Johnny said, "Devil, just come on back if you ever wanna try again
I done told you once you son of a bitch, I'm the best that's ever been!"

He played "Fire on the Mountain" run boys, run
The devil's in the House of the Rising Sun
The chicken in a bread pan pickin' out dough
Granny, will your dog bite? No child, no.

As the lyrics ended, David kept right on with the music, playing like a man possessed, until finally, the song finished on a set 9f very rapid notes, as if they were meant to be punctuation points.

As soon as he finished, playing, the crowd erupted in applause, causing David to blush slightly as he dipped his head in thanks. Afterwards, he put the fiddle and bow away and closed the case. He then started towards the exit, accepting several wishes of congratulations as he went.

Once out of the tent, he took a quick breath. He then returned to the Replicator and recycled the instrument. Once it was gone, he made his way back to the Medical Tent. While the praise from his fellow shipmates was nice to hear, there was only one voice of praise that he really wanted.

If only she would wake up.

~OFF~