The Battle of the Live Albums
Characters:
Hugh
Hugh is an alien that looks very human. He cleansed his home planet from evil, and he came to the Earth to do the same. He uses a dark helmet that covers his body with armor that increases his strength and gives him access to futuristic weapons that appear by thought. When Hugh was 16, he captured a dangerous criminal named Gull (this original adventure of Hugh can be read here: https://theprose.com/post/389825/the-pit ). Now 30 years old, Hugh has spent the past 14 years building a worldwide network of heroes powered by the same helmet technology as himself. Hugh has even created an alternate world called the Reflection Dimension, a safe place to keep the most dangerous criminals. The inhabitants of the Reflection Dimension all have food, shelter, and digital entertainment needs supplied, and their only means of escape is to pass a test to show that they have truly given up their evil ways. If they are able to do this, they are also cleared of all criminal charges (The first tale of the Reflection Dimension can be read here: https://theprose.com/post/382631/redemption-in-another-dimension ).
Mirk
Mirk is one of Hugh's associates. He uses the same helmet/armor/weapon gear as his boss. His brother Tam also works for Hugh, and the pair have worked together in the past. In one of Mirk's recent missions, he sent the traitor that stole Prince Lenny Overature's features to the Redemption Dimension before his own features could be stolen, but the traitor did not return, resulting in the prince being stuck in a silhouette form and becoming the villain Leftover. Leftover has since not only tricked Mirk into thinking that he has been turned back to normal, but he also was able to get Mirk and Hugh to give him one of Hugh's helmets, with Mirk and Hugh both retaining no memory of this action. First appearance: https://theprose.com/post/383782/hallway-of-peril )
Leftover
Originally Prince Lenny Overature of the country of Prosperity, Lenny was next in line to become the king. However, his true desire was to join his idol Hugh's hero network. King Overature allowed him to apply for Hugh's team, while secretly contacting Hugh requesting that his application be declined. Hugh appeared to Lenny shortly after and began interviewing him for the opportunity to become a new recruit. This turned out to be a trick, as this Hugh was really the king's trusted advisor Bill. Bill stole Lenny's features, leaving Lenny's body as a dark silhouette. Plotting to pose as Lenny and become king, Bill's plans were foiled when Hugh's associate Mirk came on the scene and sent Bill to the Reflection Dimension, assuming that Bill would return reformed. This did not go according to plan, and Lenny vowed revenge on Hugh and his organization, taking the name Leftover. Leftover plans to build his own team that will eliminate Hugh's group, and do what he feels will be a better job in being heroes. Leftover's latest machinations include tricking the world into thinking he is back to normal, being crowned king of Prosperity, and recently obtaining a modded helmet from Hugh's organization, with Hugh having no memory of this gift. (Leftover's origin story can be read here: https://theprose.com/post/403057/the-prince-s-year-end-goals-destiny-beyond-the-throne )
*****
"Should we close up early James? I'm telling you, nobody buys physical music anymore!"
"No, we will ride this out Julie." James responded. James and Julie worked at Still Jamming, a music store that sold records, cassettes, and CDs (compact discs). Julie had a point: digital music was giving their store a big drop in sales, with not one customer having yet stepped through their doors today. However, James still had a love for physical copies of music, and wanted to be available for anyone that felt the same.
"Personally, there's nothing like kicking back at home to some music on vinyl, so I get it." Julie said, as if reading James's mind. "But we have to think long term here. We aren't getting the traffic we used to get, and our bills are falling behind. It may be time to call it James, I'm sorry."
Before James could say anything, the door opened. James and Julie both perked up, then became fearful looking at their guest. Their visitor was wearing a black cloak that obscured their whole body, including their face. Julie shook off her apprehension and greeted the figure in a friendly voice.
"Thank you for visiting Still Jamming, can we help you find anything?" Julie asked kindly.
"Just browsing, thank you dear." The figure responded in a gravelly voice.
The figure began walking around the store, picking up various CDs to observe them.
"Is there a comic convention or something in town today?" James asked Julie in a whisper.
"I don't think so." Julie answered in a whisper. "But if he is a customer that loves music like us, his strange look doesn't matter."
The figure walked up to James and Julie and bought a copy of the new CD from pop star TopFiftyHitMaker. Julie and James thanked the figure warmly as he left with his purchase.
"See, all went well." Julie said to James, smiling. "Looks like you were right to keep the store open."
Just then, James and Julie noticed something wrong with a large portion of the CDs. There were 29 CD cases not only no longer on their respective shelves, but they all had gained cartoonish facial features, arms and legs. The CD cases laughed, then banded together to open the front door and run out into the city streets.
"Ummmmm, what just happened?" James asked Julie in a shocked tone.
*****
The cloaked figure stood on a nearby rooftop and watched 29 CD cases running down the street, laughing and chanting with glee. The figure then brought his new copy of TopFiftyHitMaker's album to life, and sent it to join the other live albums. He then doubled over and laughed at the chaos he had created.
"Well hello there!" A voice said that sounded like a mix of nobility and treachery. The cloaked figure was startled by this voice, and he turned to find a silhouette figure standing nearby.
"Do not be alarmed, I mean you no harm." The silhouette said. "My name is Leftover, and I have been looking for you. Did you bring a pair of shoes to life on a playground recently?"
"Ummmm yes, that was me." The cloaked figure said in his gravelly voice, now a bit concerned about this Leftover that seemed to be following him. "What do you want with me?" (The incident Leftover is referencing can be read about here: https://theprose.com/post/406294/a-shoe-in-a-new-mystery )
"Well, when I witnessed those living shoes fighting one of Hugh's heroes, it gave me an idea." Leftover responded gleefully. "I wanted to track down the one that has the ability to bring random objects to life. When I observed a group of living CDs running down the street, with a cloaked figure looking on, I figured you were the man I wanted to meet. I gave you my name, what is yours my mysterious friend?"
"I am Lifer." The cloaked figure responded apprehensively. "Forgive my rudeness Mr. Leftover, but what is your game here?"
"Well, I am what I am because Hugh's network failed at their jobs." Leftover replied. "So I want to get rid of every last trace of Hugh and his team, then take his place and truly protect others. A man with your talents could be quite useful for these purposes. Would you care for an interview?"
"I suppose we could talk." Lifer said, sounding less doubtful and more interested in what Leftover could offer. "What are you looking for from me?"
"Well, I am sure one of Hugh's people will be arriving soon." Leftover answered. "For now, let's observe and see what your little CD friends here can do."
*****
Mirk and Tam sat in the conference room of the local headquarters for Hugh's network of heroes. Mirk and Tam were brothers that joined Hugh two years ago. Mirk was 38 years old, while Tam was 23. Both men watched the screen in the room light up with Hugh on it, along with his newest recruits, a pair of shoes named Fred and Shania, who were both trying to figure out how they came to life.
"Good afternoon gentlemen!" Hugh said in his commonly upbeat tone. "Since our new friends Fred and Shania joined us, we have been investigating if there is someone out there with the ability to bring non-living objects to life. Well, we now have a very big lead."
"Awesome, let's hear it!" Mirk said excitedly. He was pushing 40, but Mirk's overall health and attitude was on par with his brother Tam's.
"We received a call from the Still Jamming music store, and they reported a cloaked man that touched a good portion of CD cases before buying one album and leaving." Hugh explained. "After the man left, the CD cases he touched came to life and ran out into the streets. I need you both to get the situation with the cases under control, and apprehend the cloaked man if he is in the area."
"We'll handle it Hugh." Tam said in a serious, but enthusiastic tone. "Are we going to use those weapon upgrades that we have been developing together?"
"Yes!" Hugh said, a big smile crossing his face. "The gun that sends our perps to the Reflection Dimension has been a success, but its limited number of shots won't be ideal for this mission. Tam and I have upgraded all of the weapons so if they are used to kill or knock out an opponent, the opponent will automatically be transported to the Reflection Dimension, with their life restored and their body completely healed. We were able to complete two smoke grenades too - if you use them right you may be able to catch the whole group of cases."
"Great work you geniuses!" Mirk exclaimed, giving his brother a noogie. "The upgrades should help a lot!"
*****
Mirk and Tam arrived on the streets near Still Jamming, both wearing Hugh's standard issue dark helmets that provided full body armor and access to weapons that now had the capability to send their enemies to the Reflection Dimension. As the brothers surveyed the scene, Tam chuckled as Mirk hummed a random Kiss melody.
"You're in a good mood." Tam mused. "Does this have to do with the physical music we are seeking?"
"Absolutely!" Mirk replied. "Yeah, having access to any song you want on YouTube, Spotify and Google Music is great and all, but there is nothing like holding an album in your hands, looking at the pictures the band chose to spotlight, reading the printed lyrics...."
"Maybe, but now we are going to have to likely fight your precious albums!" Tam responded with slight cynicism in his voice. "I still have a big collection too, but I would much rather face one phone with all the music in the world on it than an army of CDs."
"It'll be ok." Mirk responded confidently. "And after we win, we can swing by that record store and see what treasures they have!"
"And that's why you agreed to this mission!" Tam laughed. "It is strange though, a city invaded by live music is quite silent."
Before Mirk could tease Tam for his bad pun, the brothers heard loud chanting coming their way. The thirty CD cases approached Mirk and Tam at all angles, surrounding them.
"We've driven all the people out of this city, and it belongs to us now!" A CD case of the Stone Temple Pilots album Purple jeered in a cartoony, yet frightening voice. "You heroes will not be taking that away from us!"
"Not going to lie, being threatened by my favorite STP album is kind of rad!" Mirk said excitedly to Tam. Tam rolled his eyes and was about to remind Mirk of the convenience of digital music, when a Taylor Swift CD case opened up, sending the CD flying at them. Mirk dodged the flying CD, but the CD hit Tam's leg, sending him to the ground.
"Ha ha ha ha, what is the point of that armor?" A Dane Cook album mocked.
"Bro, are you ok?" Mirk asked Tam, helping him to his feet. There was a slight dent on the armor covering Tam's leg, but he seemed fine otherwise.
"Yeah, didn't expect that tiny piece of plastic to pack such a wallop." Tam responded, still surprised. "Looks like Hugh and I will need to do some upgrades on the armor when this is over."
Mirk made a sword appear in his hand by thought. A laser gun appeared in Tam's hand shortly after.
"I may love my music, but I love my brother more." Mirk said to the CD cases, his tone now sounding angry. "Let's get them!"
Mirk ran towards the group of CD cases in front of him and began slashing various albums with his sword. He couldn't make out all of the albums, but he took down Green Day's Nimrod album, Katy Perry's Teenage Dream, Backstreet Boys' Never Gone, and Korn's Follow The Leader. The fallen albums disappeared after being cut by Mirk's blade, transported to the Reflection Dimension where they would awaken fully healed and cared for.
Tam ran in the opposite direction of Mirk, blasting albums with his laser gun. He also couldn't tell what each album was, but he recognized Dwight Yoakam's Buenos Noches From A Lonely Room, Fleetwood Mac's self-titled album, Guns N' Roses' Use Your Illusion II, 311's Soundsystem, and Sublime's 40 Oz To Freedom.
"Good thing I have all those albums digitally already!" Tam exclaimed. Tam regrouped with Mirk, and they surveyed how many more albums they had left to contend with. There were seven running towards Mirk, and eight running towards Tam.
"Is now a good time to use the smoke grenades?" Mirk asked Tam. Tam nodded.
Mirk and Tam made the smoke grenades appear by thought, and they threw them in opposite directions. The smoke enveloped the remaining albums, and once it cleared all of the CD cases were safely whisked to the Reflection Dimension just like their other companions.
Mirk sat on the ground, panting. "Do you think we got them all?"
"No." Tam responded in a grave tone. The TopFiftyHitMaker CD case was running towards Tam, snarling and glaring at the heroes with bloodshot eyes. The album was holding a cracked CD in each hand, and appeared ready for a melee fight. Tam did not give the album its request, using his laser gun and blasting it to the Reflection Dimension with the rest of the music.
"Now we're good." Tam sighed, sitting down as well. The two brothers silently mused about how neither would ever look at music the same way again.
Twenty nine CD cases then reappeared on all sides of Mirk and Tam. TopFiftyHitMaker was not among them. Mirk and Tam continued sitting, as they knew that the albums could only have returned from the Reflection Dimension if they were ready to live changed lives.
"We're sorry for how we treated you all." The Sublime album said remorsefully. "We won't drive people away, or attack them anymore."
"We're going to go back to Still Jamming, and see if we can get some honest jobs there." The Guns N' Roses album added. "Maybe we can help them with their business."
"Sounds great!" Mirk and Tam said together. The heroes and the CDs then agreed to walk back to the record store to discuss it with James and Julie.
*****
Word spread quickly that Still Jamming had living albums working there, and people were flocking to the store to talk music with the music. James, Julie, and their new friends didn't have to worry about customers ever again - their sales and support were better than ever.
One day Lifer was on the rooftops, looking down at the booming record store. Leftover stood by him, taking in the sight of the previously struggling business finding success again.
"Well, the fake heroes weren't defeated, but you saved a treasured local business." Leftover jeered. "I expected more, but I still see potential for you Lifer."
"How very gracious of you Mr. Leftover." Lifer snapped back. "Keep in mind, I have only recently gained my life giving powers. This battle may not have gone the way I hoped it would, but I did learn a valuable lesson that will help next time."
"And that would be?" Leftover asked, no longer mocking, but genuinely interested.
"I created the CD cases with a desire to cause trouble, but I also gave just about all of them their own distinct personalities. However, the CD I bought and brought to life was an exception. TopFiftyHitMaker's album was designed to only want to kill. I only created one like that this time around, but I am now curious what a whole group with that kind of mindset would be capable of."
"Now that is a plan!" Leftover responded excitedly. "Show me some results with that, and I will guarantee you a spot in our ranks."
"I will consider your offer should it be given." Lifer chuckled. "But for now Mr. Leftover, get some popcorn and turn off your phone. The feature presentation will be starting soon!"