Chapter 3
And so it began.
With the new week beginning, the atmosphere of the Syndicate stronghold became one of relaxation, a concept that shortly before would have seemed incomprehensible. With major activities put on hold, months of stress and foreboding had been lifted off the heads of Muro's people. The only exceptions to this were Yoshi Minagawa and Tim Melvin.
Yoshi was grateful that the Entertainment Show was scheduled to be on the last day of the week, for it seemed that he would need every second he could get. In addition to getting the stage (the main auditorium had been reserved for him at Muro's request) set up for the bands, speakers, and Tim, there were the issues of the bands, speakers, and Tim. The main issue was how they were going to be rostered and in what order. After various debates, consultations, and coin flipping, Yoshi produced the finished schedule.
The show would start off with the first motivational speaker, a man by the name of Herman Brooks. Stern in appearance but with a refreshing since of humor, Brooks had a knack for making introductions. Putting him first was by far Yoshi's easiest decision. Next would be the band that Yoshi had mentioned to Muro, a woman's rock band by the name of Furies Unleashed, though its fans more commonly referred to it by the initials "F.U.". As would be the case with the other two bands, it would play three of its most popular songs. Next would be the band New World Menace, a hip hop group that consisted of the Syndicate's younger Strikers and had a ninja with a modified vocal system for its lead singer. Next would be the second speaker, a man Yoshi didn't care for. Kigoreishi Hakamoto, or "Kigore The Big Bore" as he was often called, was the Syndicate's main spokesman for its affairs with prospective clients. In his late fifties and with a head of snow white hair, Kigoreishi was about as animated as a half buried boulder when he spoke in his constantly monotonous voice. Since Muro had insisted on his presence, Yoshi had no way of getting out of having to include him. He just hoped that Kigoreishi wouldn't put the audience in a coma before he finished. Tim and his routine would be next, as Yoshi figured that the place would need a few good laughs at that point. Concluding the show would be the third band, Copyright Haters Anonymous. This band's specialty was doing parodies of popular mainstream songs, usually at the expense of the TCTF.
While Yoshi was getting the show together, Tim was trying to get his act together. He went through the files of his past recruits, hoping to spark memories of them that he could use in his routine. He soon had enough material to sustain him. The only problem was picking the best of it so that he wouldn't be onstage for the whole day.
As the week progressed, the more competitive of the Syndicate's denizens, set up various contests geared towards their tastes. Among the most popular of them were the long range and quick drill shooting matches. The long range match was dominated by the elite of the Syndicate's sharpshooters, but an upset occurred in the quick drills when one of the Comguys took 1st place, edging past two ninjas and a Valkyrie. Sports provide another avenue of inspiration. A basketball game was set up between two rival Assault Teams. It ended with a brawl between the two teams, which actually made it more of a hit with the spectators. Tim, who had been watching the game with Yoshi, commented that "if it was a bit colder in here, we could have set up a hockey game instead". The final main attraction was a high diving contest held at the pool in one of the compound's gyms. As a stunt, one of the Titans got it in his head to go for a cannonball to end all cannonballs. Unfortunately, he sank like a stone due to wearing his armor and had to be pulled out and resuscitated.
The day finally came for the Entertainment Show. Supervising the final touches being put on the stage, Yoshi barely heard Tim as he came up from behind him.
"Well Yosh," Tim teased. "Tonight's the night."
"You just make sure you don't mess up my show," Yoshi countered.
"Yeah. I'll try to remember to wake up on time when Big Bore's done. Thanks for sticking me after him by the way."
"Hey," replied Yoshi, who was getting irritated by the conversation. "I'm the one who's saddled with making this thing work. I'm the one who's gonna get it if it flops. I've set this up to the best of my ability. When you get your own show to set up, you can see for yourself how easy it really is."
Tim was silent for a moment before responding.
"Well however this thing goes, you can rest assured of one thing."
Yeah, what's that, Yoshi asked distractedly as he watched a section of lights being set up.
"Someday, I'll get you for this."
"Just save your funny stuff for your act tonight, OK?"
"Ha, ha," grumbled Tim. It was going to be a long night.
And so it began.
With the new week beginning, the atmosphere of the Syndicate stronghold became one of relaxation, a concept that shortly before would have seemed incomprehensible. With major activities put on hold, months of stress and foreboding had been lifted off the heads of Muro's people. The only exceptions to this were Yoshi Minagawa and Tim Melvin.
Yoshi was grateful that the Entertainment Show was scheduled to be on the last day of the week, for it seemed that he would need every second he could get. In addition to getting the stage (the main auditorium had been reserved for him at Muro's request) set up for the bands, speakers, and Tim, there were the issues of the bands, speakers, and Tim. The main issue was how they were going to be rostered and in what order. After various debates, consultations, and coin flipping, Yoshi produced the finished schedule.
The show would start off with the first motivational speaker, a man by the name of Herman Brooks. Stern in appearance but with a refreshing since of humor, Brooks had a knack for making introductions. Putting him first was by far Yoshi's easiest decision. Next would be the band that Yoshi had mentioned to Muro, a woman's rock band by the name of Furies Unleashed, though its fans more commonly referred to it by the initials "F.U.". As would be the case with the other two bands, it would play three of its most popular songs. Next would be the band New World Menace, a hip hop group that consisted of the Syndicate's younger Strikers and had a ninja with a modified vocal system for its lead singer. Next would be the second speaker, a man Yoshi didn't care for. Kigoreishi Hakamoto, or "Kigore The Big Bore" as he was often called, was the Syndicate's main spokesman for its affairs with prospective clients. In his late fifties and with a head of snow white hair, Kigoreishi was about as animated as a half buried boulder when he spoke in his constantly monotonous voice. Since Muro had insisted on his presence, Yoshi had no way of getting out of having to include him. He just hoped that Kigoreishi wouldn't put the audience in a coma before he finished. Tim and his routine would be next, as Yoshi figured that the place would need a few good laughs at that point. Concluding the show would be the third band, Copyright Haters Anonymous. This band's specialty was doing parodies of popular mainstream songs, usually at the expense of the TCTF.
While Yoshi was getting the show together, Tim was trying to get his act together. He went through the files of his past recruits, hoping to spark memories of them that he could use in his routine. He soon had enough material to sustain him. The only problem was picking the best of it so that he wouldn't be onstage for the whole day.
As the week progressed, the more competitive of the Syndicate's denizens, set up various contests geared towards their tastes. Among the most popular of them were the long range and quick drill shooting matches. The long range match was dominated by the elite of the Syndicate's sharpshooters, but an upset occurred in the quick drills when one of the Comguys took 1st place, edging past two ninjas and a Valkyrie. Sports provide another avenue of inspiration. A basketball game was set up between two rival Assault Teams. It ended with a brawl between the two teams, which actually made it more of a hit with the spectators. Tim, who had been watching the game with Yoshi, commented that "if it was a bit colder in here, we could have set up a hockey game instead". The final main attraction was a high diving contest held at the pool in one of the compound's gyms. As a stunt, one of the Titans got it in his head to go for a cannonball to end all cannonballs. Unfortunately, he sank like a stone due to wearing his armor and had to be pulled out and resuscitated.
The day finally came for the Entertainment Show. Supervising the final touches being put on the stage, Yoshi barely heard Tim as he came up from behind him.
"Well Yosh," Tim teased. "Tonight's the night."
"You just make sure you don't mess up my show," Yoshi countered.
"Yeah. I'll try to remember to wake up on time when Big Bore's done. Thanks for sticking me after him by the way."
"Hey," replied Yoshi, who was getting irritated by the conversation. "I'm the one who's saddled with making this thing work. I'm the one who's gonna get it if it flops. I've set this up to the best of my ability. When you get your own show to set up, you can see for yourself how easy it really is."
Tim was silent for a moment before responding.
"Well however this thing goes, you can rest assured of one thing."
Yeah, what's that, Yoshi asked distractedly as he watched a section of lights being set up.
"Someday, I'll get you for this."
"Just save your funny stuff for your act tonight, OK?"
"Ha, ha," grumbled Tim. It was going to be a long night.