The holographic projection from my tablet cut off, and I closed the lens. It was understandable that Razen would be curious about us, as performing on the Zero Zone island was every artist's dream. Many famous musicians, bands, hip-hop, and pop artists had started their careers on this island.
I recalled attending a concert on this island with Stella and her brother when we were young. Her brother had said that one day he would perform on this island and at the Grand Space concert. It was a nostalgic memory.
Stella, who wore a mask to avoid drawing attention, seemed lost in her thoughts. I moved to stand beside her, offering reassurance. She glanced at me briefly and said, "Thanks."
Looking up at the sky, I commented, "It must be hard to live a double life."
She giggled slightly and replied, "I think it's fun."
Everyone in the band seemed to have something going on in their lives, except for me, who enjoyed a relatively boring existence.
"I see. I'm glad you enjoy it," I responded.
At that moment, large flying vehicles descended to greet us. Only staff vehicles were allowed to transport people and equipment freely on this island, and walking was out of the question with all our equipment. We had requested the staff from the entertainment tower to come and get us.
We packed our equipment and instruments into the back of the vehicle, which resembled a truck. It had four rows of seats, and we sat in the same positions as before. The driver, a man in his forties with short brown hair, a beard, and a muscular square-shaped face, spoke to everyone.
"At 8 pm, you will have a performance at the Tower. Most of your fans have already arrived in the assigned hall. Sister Zane has high expectations of you guys, so don't let her down."
The gig and live performance were two different things. The gig was attended by fans who were familiar with our band and held in a room or area that could accommodate hundreds of fans. But the live performance was like an arena, with a capacity of thousands. This was a step up for us, even though not many people were aware of our band yet.
The vehicles flew toward the open gate of the tower and landed in a room filled with parked vehicles. We got out and carried our equipment and instruments to the entrance of the hall, where many rooms were aligned.
Two staff members asked for our assigned room, and I informed them that we were a band assigned by Zane. They quickly led us to an entrance with two doors equipped with luxury leather and golden door handles. Upon entering, there were two ways: one leading to audience seats and the other leading to a green room for our band to do makeup or dress up.
In another room, there were six people, mostly girls, and one guy who seemed to be gay. Their job was to apply makeup and do our hairstyles. It was a privilege I had never experienced before.
I realized that Stella would have to remove her mask for the makeup, and these people might recognize her. However, she stood unfazed, showing no signs of concern. Setsuna spoke up.
"Let's not do the makeup. I don't think it matches our band's image," she said with a giggle.
I added, "Yes, we're not focused on looking glamorous."
Stella nodded and said in a lower-pitched voice, disguising her identity, "That's right. What matters is how we deliver the message through our songs."
With the decision made by the remaining members, we kindly declined the makeup artist's help and informed Razen through the tablet. He understood the situation and allowed us to perform without makeup.
Our equipment was delivered to the stage, and we walked backstage with nervous expressions, except for Setsuna and Stella, who seemed unaffected by the upcoming performance.
Shan took a chance to sneak a look at the crowd, returning with widened eyes. "There are so many people..." he said, rubbing his face.
I took a deep breath and said to everyone, "We can do this."
Everyone looked at me with a smile, moreover, I was pretty sure that Stella and Setsuna weren't nervous at all, they were used to the attention they got.
"Focus on what we need to do, the nervousness will gradually go away. But do not expect it to completely go away, this is the beauty of life, sometimes you need to do it even if you are scared or nervous." Stella stepped forward and faced everyone as she added her comment.
The atmosphere became lighter as she shared her knowledge, everyone in our band had been on a stage before but not this big either. Just the passageway leading to the stage was already decorated with full leather and a unique carbon fiber pattern, the luxury feeling of this hall didn't have much similarity to the image of our band.
The reason for our nervousness became clear as we stood on the stage. Renegade 3 was known for our free-spirited nature, hence the name of our band. We were used to performing in more intimate settings, so the grandeur of this hall was a departure from our usual gigs.
A woman in her late twenties, dressed in a black suit, approached us. She exuded confidence and reassurance as she held a tablet displaying various areas of the hall. She must have been the general manager. "You can go now," she said with a smile. "I know you've got this."
Taking a deep breath, I rallied my bandmates and walked towards the center of the stage. The spotlight illuminated our every move, and to my surprise, I saw a sea of faces cheering for us. I had no idea we had such a devoted fanbase.
In that moment, any disappointment about not performing in a larger, open area vanished. It was our time to shine, and I was determined to show the audience and the countless others possibly watching the live stream what Renegade 3 was all about.
Filled with a sense of exhilaration, I looked out at the audience. The auditorium, shaped in a curve and spanning two floors, was packed with people. Their pen lights, glowing in shades of blue and red, created a mesmerizing sight, indicating a crowd of nearly a thousand.
Stella, as always, took the lead and introduced herself and the band. She then signaled for everyone to be ready. Without any musical accompaniment, she showcased her exceptional talent by starting to sing acapella, her raw vocals captivating the entire hall.
This moment felt like an incredible dream come true. The energy and support from the audience fueled our performance, and we poured our hearts into each note, each word, creating an unforgettable experience for everyone present. The connection between us and the crowd was electric, and it was a feeling I never wanted to let go of.
Despite sounding different from her idol persona, Stella's masked alter ego possessed an extraordinary talent that immediately captivated the audience. Her powerful voice commanded attention, drawing everyone's focus towards her.
As her voice gradually faded, she transitioned to playing a haunting melody on the piano, adding an emotional touch to the song. It was my turn to contribute, playing a riff on the guitar, while Setsuna maintained a steady drum pace and Shan strummed intricate notes. Ginevra's flawless bass provided the foundation for our sound. We dedicated a full four minutes to this purely progressive rock piece, showcasing our musical prowess.
Bridget, our master of sound engineering, ensured that our combining dynamics, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, texture, timbre, and tonality were perfectly synchronized, enhancing the overall experience.
Moving onto the second song, a fusion of jazz-rock with hints of funk and soul, we created a chill and upbeat flow. Stella's flawless vocals still shone through as she navigated the challenging shifts in beat. The song, titled "Burning Blue," took the audience on a mesmerizing journey, with its unpredictable twists and turns leaving them cheering in amazement.
For the third song, we delved into punk rock territory, with Stella unleashing her full vocal range, including powerful screams. Her pitch-perfect voice was nothing short of amazing. The fourth song was a venture back into progressive rock, followed by a pop rock track called "Renegade," where Setsuna showcased her rap skills. The sixth song took on a post-rock vibe, and for our latest composition, "Blooming," I joined Stella as the second vocalist.
During "Blooming," I poured every ounce of strength into my singing, while ensuring my fingers played each note perfectly. Emotions threatened to overwhelm me, and tears welled up, but I quickly composed myself, knowing I had to stay focused and not get carried away in front of the audience.
The lyrics of the song resonate with the life I've been leading, capturing the internal conflict of yearning for a normal existence while also seeking something beyond the ordinary. As I sang, I couldn't help but notice a figure standing near the corner of the room, their arms crossed.
This person had elegant, wavy white hair that cascaded over their right eyebrow, partially revealing their forehead on the left side. It was the same white-haired individual I had seen before!
As the song gradually reached its conclusion, the crowd erupted in applause, with the exception of the white-haired man. He looked at me, initially smiling but then quickly transitioning to a serious expression.
In the blink of an eye, everything came to a halt, and the room was drained of color as time itself seemed to freeze. What was happening?
The only person in motion was the white-haired man, who calmly opened the door and left the room. Suddenly, everything snapped back to normal. The crowd cheered, my friends resumed their movements, and their smiles returned. Was what I had witnessed just a figment of my imagination?
Suddenly, the room started shaking violently, as if an earthquake had struck this floating island. The tremors were accompanied by a deafening explosion from outside the room and tower, a sound more powerful than the applause of the hundreds of people present.
"What?" I muttered in shock, unable to comprehend what was happening.
Pandemonium erupted as chaos and confusion filled the room. Some members of the crowd panicked, sprinting towards the nearest exit, while the staff tried to calm everyone down. Most people dropped to the ground, seeking cover and safety. In the midst of the chaos, I quickly set my guitar down and rushed towards Stella, shouting to Setsuna and Shan to be cautious and look out for any danger.
"What is going on?"
"An earthquake on a floating island? This can't be some kind of sick joke."
"I hope the members of Renegade 3 are safe," I thought, worried about the well-being of my bandmates.
Amidst the confusion, the crowd began to voice their concerns and questions, demanding answers about what was happening. Simultaneously, security guards, dressed in plain clothes but carrying identification cards indicating their affiliation with the company, swiftly took charge, evacuating everyone through the emergency exits.
Amidst the unfolding chaos, I tightly gripped Stella's hand, causing her to look slightly shocked.
"You might risk your identity being exposed, so stay close to me," I whispered to her, my concern evident.
As the bigger, stronger one, it seemed only natural that I should protect her.
"I understand, but you don't have to hold my hand," she replied, glancing at our intertwined fingers.
Realizing her discomfort, I quickly released her hand. However, our attention was diverted as another voice approached, panting and out of breath.
"Zane just informed me that there are riots breaking out all over the island, including Area 4. There's a group of people firing laser guns in the third stage!" Razen exclaimed, his voice trembling with shock.
A wave of disbelief washed over the faces of everyone present. The highly anticipated live performance had turned into an unattainable dream, and now a new threat loomed over us. We all recognized the potential danger, and without hesitation, we began packing up our equipment.
Setsuna managed to assemble her portable drum kit, and I went over to help her, picking up one of the snares. Shan and Bridget also pitched in, carrying some of her other equipment. Soon, three security guards joined us, and together, we made our way out of the room and towards the parking area.