First, I would like to apologize for my absences. I have been busy with colleges stuff and getting ready to apply for a job. I have also been working on an original story. I have also decided to edit the story of Jed and the Digitals to fit the comic version of Jem and the Holograms, more or less. Future chapters may be based off episodes from the original 1980s series, but the comic series to me seems more in tune with the current era. Plus, the original version left little to no explanation of how the band was formed so with this prologue, it shall at last have an origin story that seems more right.
Disclaimer: I do not own Code Lyoko or its characters. Just the ones I've made.
Jed and the Digitals
Prologue
It had only been about a year since Lyoko was shutdown. The Lyoko Warriors had changed a lot since then, Jeremie, for example, had given up being on the computer so much though he still pulls off all-nighters; Aelita had fully embraced her new career as a DJ, however she still didn't have a recording contract just yet; Odd had grown slightly taller at least becoming taller Jeremie and Aelita and after being constantly made fun of for his feet stinking, he decided on advice from his uncle to wear sandals to help them breathe a little better, he had also discovered that he was also attracted to boys as well as girls; Ulrich's grades had risen significantly to the point where was becoming a better student, his GPA rising to at least a B average; Yumi had developed an interest in Fashion Design and had gotten the courage to ask Ulrich out on their first date, while William was happy they finally got together, he was kind of sad that he lost her, Yumi hoped that one day he will find true love; speaking of William, he had been going through some PTSD after being freed from X.A.N.A., it took months for the group to trust him again and for him to trust himself again. He did develop a fear of jellyfish, though. Like Odd, he had also decided to change to sandals but for an unknown different reason. (A/N: Except for wardrobe, the Lyoko Warriors' appearance are based off their Evolution counterparts, however Odd's still blond and Ulrich is still shorter than Yumi, and they wear different outfits). The group had also gained a new member, Jarrod Wyrick, an African-American boy that moved all the way from Waldo, Arkansas to live with his five older brothers after his mom died of cancer. Jarrod was an extremely shy kid that didn't say much so Jeremie, his childhood best friend and new roommate, had to do some of the talking for him. He had black dreadlocks that reached down his neck with a blond ombre as well as bangs and big brown eyes. He wore a red and black flannel shirt under a black hooded vest, maroon shorts, and black Chaco sandals with red and black flannel straps. Jarrod also took Odd's place as the shortest of the group.
One day at Kadic Academy, Odd ran to the Wreck Room where the former Lyoko Warriors were hanging out, holding flier. Odd wore a violet long-sleeved shirt under an indigo short-sleeved jacket, indigo jeans, and brown Chaco sandals with yellow straps. Meanwhile, in the wrecking room, Ulrich, dressed in an olive cap, a yellow tank top, khaki pants, white ankle socks, and yellow sneakers, and Yumi, wearing a black elbow-length blouse over a green tank top and over a green vest, black jeans, white ankle socks, and black ankle boots, were busy cuddling on the sofa. Aelita, wearing a lavender blouse, a pink skirt, white knee socks, and cerise ankle boots, was looking through her dad's photo album, while Jeremie, dressed in a cyan cap, a sky blue t-shirt, denim jeans, white socks, sky blue Sanuks, was getting guitar lessons from William, who wore a navy blue t-shirt, denim jeans with a brown and gold belt, and black Chaco sandals with maroon straps, although at the rate he was excelling, he didn't need any. Just then, Odd burst through the door.
"Guys," Odd yelled, scaring the daylights out of them, "You are not going to believe what I just saw."
"What is it, Odd?" asked Jeremie, curiously. Odd, then, showed them the flier, it was decorated with a lot of musical notes with a bunch of musical instruments in the center.
"Check it," said Odd after the flier grabbed the others attention, "Storm Records just moved to France and their looking for a new band to sign. Do you know what this means?"
"That we're going to have to deal with you blasting new music at all hours of the night?" asked Ulrich sarcastically.
"No, dude," chided Odd, "We could be this band. We could restart the Pop Rock Progressive and make it an official band. All we gotta do is play against some other amateurs in a Battle of the Bands contest."
"I don't think so, Odd," said Yumi.
"Oh, come on, Yumi," whined Odd, "You know you liked being in a band."
"Maybe so, but…"
"Oh, come on, Yumi," said Aelita calmly, "It would be fun, plus me and William have never heard you guys play before."
"Well, I would like to play the keyboard again," said Ulrich, giving his girlfriend the puppy dog eyes.
"Ugh," Yumi knew she couldn't win if someone made that face at her, "Fine, but you're going to have to find another lead singer."
"Alright," said Odd, "But, you're still doing the band." Yumi put her hands up in defeat as she knew she couldn't escape, she and the two boys then looked at Aelita, William, and Jeremie.
"I'll be part of it," said Aelita, "But, I'm not doing lead. I might be able to sing, but I'd rather be backup." They looked at William, but he already made his mind up.
"No thanks," said William, "I only perform for myself not a thousand people." Eyes, then, turned to the youngest member, Jeremie.
"I-I-I-I'm not sure about that," said Jeremie.
"Come on, Einstein," encouraged William, "You're already getting better."
"Plus, you do have a great voice," Aelita chimed in. Jeremie blushed. The others started giving the puppy eyes and he finally caved.
"Okay, fine, but I'm not doing lead either."
"Well, what about Jarrod?" asked Ulrich, "He has a great voice and he's a music prodigy."
"I don't know," said Jeremie, "That little boy has massive stage fright. It runs in his family. He might freak."
"Yeah, but his older brothers overcame their stage fright," Odd said, "Maybe he will, too."
"Maybe."
"Come on, let's go find him," said Yumi, "He said he was going to the music room." The group then went over to the music room and saw Jarrod singing to himself.
They told him about the contest and he said with much hesitation, "Okay."
"Are you sure, kiddo?" asked Jeremie. Jarrod nodded.
"Okay, so how do we enter this Battle of the Bands?" asked Yumi.
"According to this flier, we have to submit a music video of a song of our choice," answered Aelita, "It can be a cover and it has to be submitted in four weeks. The Battle of the Bands is next month."
"Okay, but we're gonna need some instruments," said Jeremie.
"And some rockin' outfits," chimed in Aelita.
"I think my big brothers can help with that," suggested Jarrod. With that, the group jumped into William's car, a black Nissan van, and rode off to the Wyrick house. The Wyrick house was a three-story mansion with white walls and brown doors and around twenty windows. The group was greeted at the door by Jarrod's older brothers, Jericho, AJ, Shane, Ronnie, and Kyle.
Jericho had short brown hair with pink highlights and blue eyes. He wore a pink flannel shirt with khaki pants and brown sneaker boots.
AJ had short blue hair and brown eyes. He wore a blue t-shirt with black jeans and black vans.
Shane had a purple afro and brown eyes. He wore a purple t-shirt with black shorts and black flip flops.
Ronnie had orange hair and brown eyes. He wore an orange t-shirt, khaki shorts, and brown flip flops.
Kyle had auburn red hair and blue eyes. He wore a red flannel shirt, blue pants, and gray sneaker vans.
After they explained the situation, Jericho, or Jay, as everybody called him, smiled and said, "You've come to the right people. The instruments are outback in the studio."
"And I can come up with some outfits for you guys," said Shane as the group was led to the back of the house where the studio was located. Inside, there was a lot of cerise furniture with sky blue walls with the actual recording room in the back of it. There was a numerous amount of different colored instruments, ranging from guitars to drum kits. Ulrich and Odd were the first people inside while the others just walked in looking for instruments. Jeremie picked up a sky blue Les Paul electric guitar with a blue neck and a periwinkle guitar strap; Odd saw a plum fender precision bass guitar with a sand brown neck and lavender strap; Ulrich was looking for a keyboard when Kyle gave him a yellow keytar with a gold colored strap, stating that, "It's a lot more fun to play and it lets you move a little more."
Aelita decided to get a pink keytar with a fuchsia strap, though AJ also showed a pink turntable set if she ever wanted to DJ at their performances; Yumi had a hard time picking an instrument until Ronnie showed her a green and black drum kit. With many of the instruments picked, Jay gave his baby brother a red microphone. Shane came in with the fashion designs and the group was ready to go.
Before anyone asks Jarrod is based off me to some extent, in personality and appearance, height included.
Jericho, AJ, Shane, Ronnie, and Kyle are based off Jerrica Benton, Aja Leith, Shana Elmsford, Carmen "Raya" Alonso, and Kimber Benton from Jem and the Holograms.
The instruments I looked up online and found some great bases for them.