Chapter 86

"...In speaking with the new Commander of the Army, Commandant Henchly, the band and I received the biggest boon we could ever have asked for. Many of our men and women wearing the uniform and fighting to the right NOT to conform have been putting their own spin of some of our music. THAT in itself is the most flattering thing a group such as ourselves can ever hear. Songs like 'Liberate', 'Prayer', 'Indestructible', 'Down with the Sickness', and 'The Curse' are being used as slogans by our troops. We wrote that shit for you. Keep using it when you ride into battle. We'll have more shit out there for you in the coming weeks. Until next time, my brothers, my sisters, my BLOOD, remember the cause, stay strong and don't give up hope."

As John ended the taping, Dan looked at David in confusion. "Are they really doing that?"

"Yeah, Danny. The Commandant told me that they're saying shit like, ‘Liberate your mind, mother fucker!', and 'I'm indestructible, bitch, I'll never be overcome'. Hell, he even told me about one squad that uses 'Down with the Sickness' as their anthem, saying, 'We're not Down with the Sickness, We ARE the Sickness.'"

Mike laughed. "WOW! That's pretty fucking cool."

David nodded. "I said the same fucking thing. It sounds really 1980's, but it's cool."

"What was that part you mentioned in there about guerilla warfare?"  John asked.

"That, brother, is a fact that the Commandant let me in on. They're training them in guerilla warfare and the Army is kicking ass and taking names. I believe that's how we have so many leaders in custody to be tried as War criminals."

Danny started humming. John and Mikey picked up it and started humming their parts to the song in Danny's head. David laughed and started singing, "Malevolent criminal, I, when the vision paints my mind, cross the invisible line, and you'll be paid in kind..." and they headed up the stairs.

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Brie heard singing as she helped Tina make lunch for everyone. She looked at Tina. "Am I hearing things or are they all singing their parts to 'Criminal'?"

Tina listened closer. "No, you're not hearing things."

The door opened to, "NOW, YOU WANNA KNOW, YOU WANNA NAME, YOU WANNA CALL ME MOTHER FUCKER, NOW YOU WANNA KNOW, YOU WANNA NAME, YOU WANNA SAY IT DOESN'T MATTER, NOW YOU WANNA KNOW, YOU WANNA NAME, YOU WANNA CALL ME MOTHER FUCKER, NOW YOU WANNA KNOW, YOU WANNA NAME, YOU WANNA SAY IT DOESN'T MATTER NOW!!!! NOW, NOW YOU WANNA KNOW, NOW YOU WANNA NAME, NOW WANNA PLACE, NOW YOU WANNA TIME, NOW YOU WANT IT ALL, NOW, NOW YOU WANNA KNOW, NOW YOU WANNA NAME, NOW YOU WANNA PLACE, NOW YOU WANNA TIME, NOW YOU WANT IT ALL, NOW!!!! IN A WORLD THAT I WANNA KNOW, WITH A MESSAGE THAT I NEVER WANNA SEND, TO BE FREE FROM ALL OF THIS, I WANT YOU TO QUICKEN MY END, DON'T TELL ME I CANNOT GO WITH A WOUND THAT REFUSES TO MEND, DELIVER ME FROM ALL OF THIS, I WANT YOU TO QUICKEN MY END, DON'T SAY THAT IT ISN'T SO, I'M ON A PATH THAT YOU'LL NEVER COMPREHEND, SET ME FREE FROM ALL OF THIS, I NEED YOU TO QUICKEN MY END!"

The women applauded and made cat calls. Brie even whistled. "Nicely done, boys! Totally a capella with the break downs and everything! That was sweet!" they both yelled intermittently.

The guys all took a bow. Dan had a thought. "We should have family jam sessions", he said.

"Like Family Game Night but we break out instruments instead of board games?" Mike asked.

Dan nodded. "Yeah. I mean, we can still do Family Game Night once a week, but you know, every now and then we just break out the amps and shit, gather on the living room or something and just jam. Everyone can sing along if they know the words."

The guys all thought about it. "What do you ladies think?" David asked.

"I think it's a good idea. Another way to build that family bond not only between the individuals in each family, but the families as one", Tina said.

"I have to agree, plus, it will be fun to sit in a big circle in the living room with Danny on his guitar, Mikey on the Drums and John rocking that Bass while we all sing along with you, baby", Brie said. "Malachai's been suggesting this for about a year now."