Two days after the party at Sabra Manor, Remmy went to the
house of his most promising [and most lucrative] music student,
Marty DuQuesne. There, after discussing the royalties from their
latest release, "Mother's Love", Remmy sprang another idea on
them.
"Listening to the children at the party, I feel that they have
quite a bit of potential, just waiting to be tapped. What do you
two think?" he asked Marty and his wife, Amanda.
"Definitely lots of potential, especially Shawn. He's showing
a range of talents almost equal to mine, though not as deep, of
course." Marty said, with more than a trace of smugness, which
earned him a playful slap from Amanda.
"If I could come up with a way to work Brett into the band,
why not approach them to see if they would record an album or
two?" Remmy asked, dollar signs dancing in front of his eyes.
"Always in hot pursuit of profit, aren't you, you old swamp
rat?" asked Amanda, smiling so as to take any sting out of the
statement.
"Of course he is. Now, I know that Brett has little inclination
for music, has less talent, and went deaf before he had a real
chance to learn. However, I have an idea that will at least give
him a good enough voice to sing with Mahree on some leads, and
to do backgrounds if he wants." said Marty.
"Oh, really, mon cher? And, how is that?" Remmy asked,
with a little blink of surprise.
"By having Amanda and I link our telepathic talents together,
then, in essence, 'lending' Brett my musical talent and her
hearing. If it works, he should have a passable singing voice to go
along with his speaking voice." Marty exclaimed, his eyes focused
on a spot somewhere beyond Remmy's right shoulder.
"Oh, Lord, he's having another vision." Amanda said. "Let
him talk, Remmy. He could come up with some good ideas."
Marty rambled on for about 15 minutes about the new
group- who they would need, what music they would do, and so
on, Remmy hurriedly writing down what Marty said. When he
finally wound down, the three called Sabra Manor to see if the
children were there, which they were. They crowded into the
transfer booth at the house and flicked over.
At the manor, Remmy and Marty pitched their proposal to
Brett, Robin, Mahree, and Shawn. The four went into a brief
telepathic communion while they considered the proposal. After
a long time [4� minutes], they broke the communion.
Brett spoke for the four of them. "Dad, there are several
questions and statements we have. First, we are going to need a
drummer. Any ideas?"
"Easy. Evan Chambers would be amenable to the idea. I
know he likes drumming, and Sophie has forbidden him from
doing so in the house, because she doesn't want him giving the
boys ideas." was Marty's quick response.
Mahree then took up the questions. "Next, it's not going to
be easy scheduling time for rehearsals and recording. How do you
propose getting around our schedules?"
Remmy fielded that question. "Why, in a holodeck link. You
four can be here, Evan at his house, and me at my place, mixing.
If any other people are needed, I'm sure some of my friends will
sit in as needed."
Shawn asked, "When do you propose testing your theory
about using Brett in the group? Are you sure the idea will work?"
Amanda answered that one. "Marty's sure it will work. I
know it pleases us both to do duets together. We want Brett and
Mahree to enjoy that same feeling as well. I admit, it's going to be
difficult on both Marty and I, but we're both willing to try it."
Robin then posed the final question. "One thing the four of
us agree on. We do not feel it is proper that the future Prime
Minister, Deputy Prime minister, First Lady, and their chief
bodyguard be involved with a rock and roll band. One condition
is that we do this anonymously, only releasing the music, never
appearing publicly."
Seeing Remmy's nod of approval, Robin continued. "Next,
any money that we earn from this go to a charitable trust. We
have more than enough funding as it is." Robin looked directly at
Remmy. "You are NOT going to run this trust. I will find a person
to do so, because Mother warned me about you, you old swamp
rat!"
Remmy pretended shock and outrage. "What, you not trust
me with money we earn?" he nearly shouted.
The kids looked at each other. They then looked at Remmy,
and in unison, shouted "NO!"
Marty said wryly, "I could have told you they were going to
say that, Remmy."
"Well, mon cher, shall we get to planning?" Remmy said
briskly, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
Over the next six weeks, the four, along with Evan and the
occasional loan from the fang gang, recorded 14 songs. Twelve
were remixes from the early rock days, one Marty wrote, and one
that Shawn thought of one day. They decided on a name for the
band- the Krustaceanz. On one song, their remix of the 1980's
'She Blinded Me With Science', they managed to drag Robin's
father Christian into doing the part of the mad scientist, swearing
him to secrecy. In fact, the entire project was a big secret, mainly
from Robin's mother and Mahree and Shawn's grandmother,
Raven.
Two weeks after the release of the CD, named "On the Hard
Shell", Remmy, Marty, and Amanda met with the kids, plus
Evan, at the manor for the first sales and airplay report.
Marty began the report. "Well, my friends, after the first
week, we received significant airplay on the big five music
stations- KLSX in Los Angeles, WABC in New York, CRKK in
Toronto, RK3 in London, and LCMS in Luna City. Of the 14
songs, the top three are 'Science' at #14, 'Like to Say' at #6, and
'Hard Shell' at #5. CD sales put us at #29 and climbing fast. Well
done, all of you."
"Locally, we're doing even better, because I'm majority
owner of four of the biggest music stations on Sagania, and can
'suggest' down the line to play this particular CD and get away
with it." Amanda said.
"Are the figures reliable then locally?" Robin asked.
"Not yet. Give them another two weeks and they should be. I
stopped the 'suggestion' ten days back." Amanda replied.
"Chad tells me that the CD is getting popular at the VS
Academy- the biggest question asked is 'who are these people?'
and 'when are they going to do videos?'" Evan said with a laugh.
"Too bad I can't tell him just who is involved in the CD!"
Shawn and Robin looked at each other. "You know, I think
we can tell him. In fact, the next time I'm at VSHQ, I think I'll let
drop that I know the band." Shawn said slyly.
"Are you sure that's a good idea, Shawn?" Marty said with
concern.
"Of course- if you can't trust the VS to protect a secret, who
can you trust?" was Shawn's answer.
[Note: This is the song list for the CD 'On the Hard Shell'-
Houmala Music label #976, released 16.4 2114.]
01] Hard Shell 08] Abracadabra
02] Rock Lobster 09] That's What I Like About You
03] She Blinded Me With 10] Bend Me, Shape Me
Science
04] Everyone Have Fun 11] Macarena
Tonight
05] Things I Like To Say 12] Speed Racer
06] Reach Out Of The 13] People Got To Be Free
Darkness
07] Get Together 14] Blooming Roses
Credits: 01] JSS writer, lead vocals. 02] JSS lead. 03] CRS lead,
special guest vocals CMS. 04] JSS lead. 05] BMD & MRS lead.
06] BMD & MRS lead. 07] BMD lead. 08] CRS lead. 09] EAC
lead. 10] EAC lead. 11] MRS lead. 14] MRS lead.
Instruments: Lead guitar: MRS. Bass guitar: JSS. Keyboards:
CRS. Drums: EAC. Saxophone: FG1. Trumpets: FG2, FG3.
Producer: RLC. Production assistants: MRD & APD.]