Chapter 7: Keep Yourself Alive
(Disclaimer!)
Korra was looking at Marcus.
The two of them were trying to outdo themselves at the guitar battle.
Marcus was looking to the crowd thinking that he won.
Korra however had a trick up her sleeve.
"Wait til you hear this."
A few hours earlier.
"Come again?" Asked Asami.
"Well, Marcus thinks you have talent, and he even told us so," Zoe repeated herself, "He doesn't wanna say it out loud though because it might destroy his image."
"Then why is he so uptight about her relationship with Asami?" Bolin asked.
"Well to answer that question, its because his old girlfriend cheated on him, and dumped him for a woman."
"Bambi all over again," Tahno said.
"So he wants to have a guitar duel with me?"
"Correct."
"And if we win, we get to stay on the tour."
"Exactly."
Korra thought for a moment.
"Alright I'll do it."
Asami kissed Korra's cheek.
"That's my girl."
Opal groped Korra's breasts.
"For luck."
The others laughed.
Korra tuned her guitar and went to MArcus' room.
"So did you give my offer some thought?"
"I'll do it," Korra said.
He grinned.
"Get ready to meet your maker."
The two of them went to the main stage of the Axis Nightclub.
Marcus grabbed his guitar and plugged up.
"I think its time I gave you a taste of what I'm made of."
He played a guitar solo.
Korra looked at him.
"Oh I didn't realize it was my turn, I thought that was just you tuning up."
Korra countered with a bluesy riff.
"Ok so you can walk, but can you run?"
He played a punk rock riff.
"Sure, but I prefer to fly."
Korra played a solo using her thumb as a pick.
"Just like Jeff Beck…." Blake said.
"She's good," Shelly said.
Marcus countered with a heavy metal solo followed by a dive bomb.
Korra retaliated by playing guitar with her teeth.
Marcus played a lick and Korra copied it in her own style.
The two of them kept going at each other with different licks and riffs trying to outdo each other.
"We gotta get in on this," Blake said.
The band joined in doing a blues shuffle.
Marcus did his thing and then Korra did her own.
Marcus played the guitar behind his back.
Korra did some slide guitar riffs.
Varrick was watching Korra bust the moves.
"You show that dickhole who's boss," he said.
Zhu Li called him on the phone.
Marcus did a trick using a delay pedal.
Korra did the same using reverse delay.
Marcus then did something similar to Pat Metheny and then Frank Gambale.
He then turned around believing he won.
Korra then started a new lick.
She then played something that was similar to Paganini's Caprice no. 5.
Varrick was listening.
"What the devil?"
She then played another Paganini riff.
She merged a few Paganini riffs together to create one incredible guitar solo and then finished it.
The audience clapped for her.
Marcus attempted to play the same thing but kept messing up on a few parts.
He then put his guitar down.
"You're a fucking legend," he said smiling, "You get the first set tonight."
Korra's band cheered and chanted her name.
Zoe smiled.
Tahno took the microphone.
"Ok tell you what, its time you all joined me," he said, "Everybody is gonna keep yourself alive!"
Korra started playing a riff.
Tahno took the first half of the microphone off.
The band started to join in.
Marcus found himself clapping along with everyone else.
Keep Yourself Alive by Queen
Tahno: I was told a million times
Of all the troubles in my way
Mind you grow a little wiser
Little better every day
But if I crossed a million rivers
And I rode a million miles
Then I'd still be where I started
Bread and butter for a smile
Well I sold a million mirrors
In a shop in Alley Way
But I never saw my face
In any window any day
Now they say your folks are telling you
Be a super star
But I tell you just be satisfied
Stay right where you are
Korra and Asami: Keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive
Tahno: It'll take you all your time and a money
Honey you'll survive
Well I've loved a million women
In a belladonnic haze
And I ate a million dinners
Brought to me on silver trays
Give me everything I need
To feed my body and my soul
Well I'll grow a little bigger
Maybe that can be my goal
I was told a million times
Of all the people in my way
How I had to keep on trying
And get better every day
But if I crossed a million rivers
And I rode a million miles
Then I'd still be where I started
Same as when I started
Korra and Asami: Keep yourself alive
Come on
Keep yourself alive
Tahno: It'll take you all your time and a money
Honey you'll survive
Bolin did a drum solo while Opal recorded it.
Zoe was watching Mako play the whole time.
"This guy is amazing with his bass playing! GO MAKO!"
Marcus laughed.
Someone was watching them and had her eye on Tahno.
Korra stepped on her tone bender and played one of her signature guitar solos.
She then walked out to the stage using a wireless.
"I knew the wireless would do the trick," Asami said.
Korra and Asami: Keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive
Tahno: It'll take you all your time and a money
To keep me satisfied
Mako: Do you think you're better every day
Tahno: No, I just think I'm two steps nearer to my grave
Korra and Asami: Keep yourself alive
Come on
Keep yourself alive
Tahno: You take your time and take more money
Keep yourself alive
Korra and Asami: Keep yourself alive
Come on
Keep yourself alive
Tahno: All you people keep yourself alive
Korra and Asmai: Keep yourself alive
Come on
Come on
Keep yourself alive
Tahno: It'll take you all your time and a money
To keep me satisfied
Korra and Asami: Keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive
Tahno: All you people keep yourself alive
Take you all your time and money
Honey you will survive
Keep you satisfied
Keep you satisfied
The band finished and the audience cheered.
"Looks like we're back in business," Korra said.