Chapter 23
Amai was at a loss.
He thought this reality TV show would prove to the world and those who wish to make it big that the industry is unforgiving and merciless. However, this one band has proven to him time and time again that whatever he throws at them is nothing! "I don't get this, not the least bit…" he muttered.
They have been at the show for a month now. It was November when he went over the footage of Raised By Wolves who didn't hesitate or shrug off the challenges before them. Bringing in Tempest for the sports celebrity singer was a good move, how they convinced him to help was another matter. Yet now, there are talent agencies going after Tempest for his deep and opera like voice. The last three weeks of challenges were to throw the wolves off their game… yet he failed at that too. However there was one challenge Amai did like. After their 'sport celebrity' challenge, he told them to sing a song about an unknown hero… who knew they were aware of Saitama. The song was perfect and worthy of him no less, even Alpha dressed up as him!
Since then, he has tried to throw them off. The week after that, they were to preform before an audience and get them to sing along with two songs. They did so with ease. The one named Artic took to the stage and sung a rather catch tune called 'The Sky is a neighborhood' Then Beta took to the stage with one that was rather mellow yet it enticed the audience to sing along. "Make this go on forever… how fitting of a name… how on earth did they think of these on the fly…" Amai thought to himself.
The challenge after that, sing a song with as few interments as possible.
Raised by wolves used none… merely their own voiced as they went accapella. The song, Sound of Silence.
"They are prepared for whatever I throw at them, perhaps this week's challenge will be difficult…" he thought to himself. Amai told them to sing a raunchy song. He just went over Zombie Apocalypse's entry called 'Necrophilia.' It passed… just barely in his books. He was forced to pick that band for promote diversity in the industry.
Next, raised by wolves. "No doubt they are going to follow the norm of the others. All who have girls in their bands used them to make it 'crude' to say the least. Classic and yet very predictable." He began to watch the entry.
It started off with stripper like music, and then, Whinny on the eclectic guitar. Yet as the song progressed. Alpha took the lead vocals, however he was acting and dressing strangely. "What is he up to?" Amai wondered.
When it reached the chorus of the song, apparently called 'Porn star dancing' it began to be uncomfortable to watch. Alpha stripped down to tight shorts, stripping away as he danced rather suggestively against a stripper pole…
"What… am I watching?" he asked aloud.
It only escalated when Artic sung the second part of the song, yet when it came to the guitar solo… the two boys were doing stripper like dancing around the poles in very suggestive and raunchy ways. When the song ended, Amai didn't want to admit it, but they succeeded in the challenge. In fact, they took the lesser known approach to fulfill it, instead of exploiting the girls, the boys opted to exploit themselves!
"I must give credit where it's due here, they certainly know what to do as well as spare their band mates this indecency." But, then a new idea came to mind.
Amai smiled as he was about to go on the air and explain next week's challenge.
#
"WHAT!"
"Indeed…" said a coy Amai Mask. "Next week, we are switching things up… we are going to have the led singers switched out with another band. Raise by Wolves, you will be swapping lead singers with Zombie Apocalypse!"
Yuuma froze to the news as it was announced. How is this fair? How does this prove that a band can perform when it's not THEIR band! "There are penalties though, however, this would be the perfect time to use a pass if you wished to do so. After all, the bands you are swapping with are your rivals. You can set them up for failure or… even perhaps boost their rankings. The choice remains yours. Good luck and I wish to see a very good show. You are all moving to a different studio to prevent sabotage and unnecessary… damage to say the least"
Then that smirked appeared on his face. "Good luck…"
When the cameras were turned off, Yuuma froze to the news as he turned to the band. "Shit…" said Akira. "What do we do!?"
"Now, let's not jump the gun here…" said Jason. "Look, we've talked to these guys, when we were not in our… persona uniform in a sense. They are sensible. We can perhaps work something out…"
"They see us as their main rivals in this, do you think they are going to cooperate?" demanded Luna.
Eclipsa paused as she considered the option. "I think we can work something out with them. The lead singer is more of a screamo kind, perhaps though it can be of use… What was that band that we listened to that sort of had both vocals of screaming and elegant?" she asked.
"Oh Alexisonfire" said Akira. "Oh, yeah, that would fit wouldn't it?"
"We need to do everything possible to have them work together with us, we shouldn't rock the boat to say the least." said Eclipsa. She then nodded her head. "Okay, let's go talk to them!" She turned to the booth. "David, favor to ask of you!"
#
They met.
Zombie Apocalypse stood across from Raised by Wolves, they met in a neutral location, one suggested by David himself was on the outskirts of City Z by the metal fence. The two bands stared each other down, none were able to speak to the other. Yuuma cleared his voice and said. "We know… we're in a contest to get a contract. But can we put that aside for the moment and come to an agreement? We will cooperate with you, if you cooperate with us?" he asked.
The Zombies looked to each other. "What makes you think we believe you are going to collaborate? Huh for all we know, you are setting us up to fail. We may use our pass on this one…"
"Why though?" demanded Jason. "Look, we're all after the same thing, but, if you use your pass now, isn't that playing into the hands of Amai? Look at it this way. He is forcing the bands to use their passes now so he can screw them later. You may not agree with us, that's fine. But just so you know, even if you don't cooperate. We're going to play anyway. We are not wasting our pass on this. Especially when we know we can play good music together."
"What the hell makes you think that?" demanded Rob. "You heard me, I'm a screamer. I don't sing all that much…"
"That's fine, we got a song that would be perfect for you. If you allow it."
Rob wasn't buying it. "If you are to be the singer for this band… what are you going to sing? You got a song worthy of Zombieman?" he demanded of Yuuma.
There was a smirk on his face. "Yes, yes I do." He said rather proudly. "I'll sing it proudly in his honor, but only if you agree to do your part to help my band. As we said, either way, you work with us or not. We are going to perform… and if you don't cooperate… it's going to look bad on you not us!" He put out his hand. "Let's make a deal here and now. We won't mess this up if you don't mess this up. My band will go first again, and then you will go second. That way, there is no delay, no hesitation on each other's end. Agreed?"
The Zombies looked to each other, however Rob found his gaze shifting towards Cannibal. Who gave a nod of approval. "Fine, agreed. You better hold to your end of this!" Rob demanded.
"We will. Now…" Reaching into his fur vest, he pulled out sheet music and passed it along to the Zombies. "This is the song I wish to sing…"
This action alone stunned them. "Wait, you are going to give us the sheet music?" demanded Fester.
"How else are you going to play? You got time? Wanna practice now?"
This stunned them to say the least. Jason was already reached into his vest and took out other sheet music and passed it to Rob. "This is what we are going to play. It's called this could be anywhere in the world." Rob looked over the lyric, but appeared confused.
"This song… looks complicated…"
"We can do it, come with us, we got a studio set up to rehearse, you interested?"
They were, with a shrug, they agreed to go to the studio and test out the music together…
