Competitive pt 2
Stuart is entirely too aware of the men with guns all around. But the scary little military man next to him is now smiling beatifically, disarmingly so. He says they will start with “Jump”.
Stuart, fortunately, has that one down to a tee. Side by side, they rock the opening very hard. Then, as the first chorus arrives, Stuart activates the left-right-left power combo that kicks his track into double score.
WHAM! A gun butt sends him sprawling.
“You are not here to defeat me,” the Leader reminds him. “You are here to help me defeat all others.”
The boots outside his cell usually wake him. If not, the steel door slamming open probably will. If not, the rough hands throwing him to the floor surely do. The Leader does not like to be kept waiting.
“Today, we will not rest until I have conquered ‘Jamie’s Crying’!”
They play long hours. The Leader is a fierce observer, picking up Stuart’s every trick with unshakeable focus, and his raw talent on the controller cannot be denied.
“Bah! How do you turn that triplet so quickly? Tell me or suffer the consequences!”
The best of Van Halen falls before them.
The days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months. Stuart finds that the rhythm that supports his new life, and keeps beatings to a minimum, is actually not so different from the one he had developed at home. The Leader likes to sleep late and has an army of servants to bring them excellent food at any time. Sometimes the Leader attends to matters of state, and Stuart is free to do whatever. But the rest of the time, they jam together, practicing until the Immortal Ruler can take yet another world leaderboard. Song by song, he advances.
“My economic minister chided me this morning for being inattentive to our production capacity.”
Having thoroughly mastered the Van Halen content, they are working on Alice in Chains.
“Did you smack that bitch down, Great One?”
They slide into the bridge, smooth as silk.
“You could say that. I had that faggit marched out for the firing squad.”
Stuart takes a three-key bonus easily, but not too perfectly.
“I am sure that will shut those other complainers up, oh Immortal Light. Here comes the quadruple-tap.”
The Leader hits it in perfect sync, leaping into ultradrive for the solo.
Led Zeppelin. Guns N Roses. Queen. Metallica. Boston. Lynyrd Skynyrd. Hendrix. Rush. Pearl Jam. Sabbath. Nirvana. One by one, they march through the greats. Where there is trouble in the land, food riots or military concerns or the collapse of some critical infrastructure, the Leader wants loud and angry and they Rage Against the Machine. When times are good, during holidays, when things are peaceful and as they should be, he prefers to tackle more thoughtful fare and they break out the Pink Floyd. But always, always, with the goal of mastering it. The global leaderboards trump all other concerns.
The Leader sits, slumped and morose.
“What shall we play today, Mighty Ruler?” Stuart asks.
“There is no point,” the Immortal Star replies. “I understand now why our victories these last weeks have come so easily.”
“Your everlasting skill has...”
The Leader cuts Stuart off. “Foolish boy! The world no longer plays ROCKGOD 4 as it once did! Do you not see that? Our competition has fallen away.”
Stuart does not know what to say.
The Leader sighs. “We shall finish, though. Play until I sit atop the scoreboard for every song.”
“And then...?” Stuart asks.
There is no reply.
They have been at it for almost two years but, at last, they bring home a near perfect execution of AC/DC’s “For Those About to Rock” and take their final leaderboard. The last note fades and silence overtakes them.
“We are done, then,” the Leader finally says.
“Am I to go home now?” Stuart dares to ask.
The Leader purses his lips. “I think... perhaps your time is done.”
“You can’t just kill me!” Stuart shouts angrily.
“Can’t I?” the Leader hisses back.
Stuart points. “I challenge you to a head-to-head rock-off.”
The Leader’s eyes narrow.
Their dueling ground is “Hot For Teacher”. The despot considers it his best song, and perhaps it is, but Stuart has always held some stunts back. They weren’t needed for their scoreboard victory.
Stuart’s fingers fly back and forth until blood leaks from under his nails. Supreme Leader’s face contorts with exertion, then fear, as he redoubles his own effort. Sweat is pouring from his face. His breath is labored. His eyes roll. Then... collapse!
Ministers rush in, but the Leader is dead.
They turn to Stuart... then bow. “Your wish, New Leader?”
Stuart considers. Then: “Is ROCKGOD 5 out?”
------
For consideration: felt incomplete; still one behind
Stuart, fortunately, has that one down to a tee. Side by side, they rock the opening very hard. Then, as the first chorus arrives, Stuart activates the left-right-left power combo that kicks his track into double score.
WHAM! A gun butt sends him sprawling.
“You are not here to defeat me,” the Leader reminds him. “You are here to help me defeat all others.”
The boots outside his cell usually wake him. If not, the steel door slamming open probably will. If not, the rough hands throwing him to the floor surely do. The Leader does not like to be kept waiting.
“Today, we will not rest until I have conquered ‘Jamie’s Crying’!”
They play long hours. The Leader is a fierce observer, picking up Stuart’s every trick with unshakeable focus, and his raw talent on the controller cannot be denied.
“Bah! How do you turn that triplet so quickly? Tell me or suffer the consequences!”
The best of Van Halen falls before them.
The days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months. Stuart finds that the rhythm that supports his new life, and keeps beatings to a minimum, is actually not so different from the one he had developed at home. The Leader likes to sleep late and has an army of servants to bring them excellent food at any time. Sometimes the Leader attends to matters of state, and Stuart is free to do whatever. But the rest of the time, they jam together, practicing until the Immortal Ruler can take yet another world leaderboard. Song by song, he advances.
“My economic minister chided me this morning for being inattentive to our production capacity.”
Having thoroughly mastered the Van Halen content, they are working on Alice in Chains.
“Did you smack that bitch down, Great One?”
They slide into the bridge, smooth as silk.
“You could say that. I had that faggit marched out for the firing squad.”
Stuart takes a three-key bonus easily, but not too perfectly.
“I am sure that will shut those other complainers up, oh Immortal Light. Here comes the quadruple-tap.”
The Leader hits it in perfect sync, leaping into ultradrive for the solo.
Led Zeppelin. Guns N Roses. Queen. Metallica. Boston. Lynyrd Skynyrd. Hendrix. Rush. Pearl Jam. Sabbath. Nirvana. One by one, they march through the greats. Where there is trouble in the land, food riots or military concerns or the collapse of some critical infrastructure, the Leader wants loud and angry and they Rage Against the Machine. When times are good, during holidays, when things are peaceful and as they should be, he prefers to tackle more thoughtful fare and they break out the Pink Floyd. But always, always, with the goal of mastering it. The global leaderboards trump all other concerns.
The Leader sits, slumped and morose.
“What shall we play today, Mighty Ruler?” Stuart asks.
“There is no point,” the Immortal Star replies. “I understand now why our victories these last weeks have come so easily.”
“Your everlasting skill has...”
The Leader cuts Stuart off. “Foolish boy! The world no longer plays ROCKGOD 4 as it once did! Do you not see that? Our competition has fallen away.”
Stuart does not know what to say.
The Leader sighs. “We shall finish, though. Play until I sit atop the scoreboard for every song.”
“And then...?” Stuart asks.
There is no reply.
They have been at it for almost two years but, at last, they bring home a near perfect execution of AC/DC’s “For Those About to Rock” and take their final leaderboard. The last note fades and silence overtakes them.
“We are done, then,” the Leader finally says.
“Am I to go home now?” Stuart dares to ask.
The Leader purses his lips. “I think... perhaps your time is done.”
“You can’t just kill me!” Stuart shouts angrily.
“Can’t I?” the Leader hisses back.
Stuart points. “I challenge you to a head-to-head rock-off.”
The Leader’s eyes narrow.
Their dueling ground is “Hot For Teacher”. The despot considers it his best song, and perhaps it is, but Stuart has always held some stunts back. They weren’t needed for their scoreboard victory.
Stuart’s fingers fly back and forth until blood leaks from under his nails. Supreme Leader’s face contorts with exertion, then fear, as he redoubles his own effort. Sweat is pouring from his face. His breath is labored. His eyes roll. Then... collapse!
Ministers rush in, but the Leader is dead.
They turn to Stuart... then bow. “Your wish, New Leader?”
Stuart considers. Then: “Is ROCKGOD 5 out?”
------
For consideration: felt incomplete; still one behind