It was practically a miracle.
It would certainly go down in the history of Mars as the "Miraculous 7 Minutes".
This is the story of the two girls who set it all in motion.
These past few months have been crazy.
Ever since I met Tuesday who was on the run from home, it's been one adventure after another.
After our first gig in front of ten people came our Cydonia Festival performance in front of a hundred thousand!
We even got to meet Crystal!
I couldn't believe it.
She smelled amazing!
This one slipped us right by.
Talk about right under our noses.
Huh? What's up?
Why didn't we think of this sooner?
What are you talking about?
A shortcut to your debut.
There was one right in front of us!
Really? What's that?
A somewhat old-school approach...
Oh yeah, a talent show!
Mars Brightest!
Passionate performances!
Stunning visuals!
Breathtaking voices!
This is where Mars' most talented fight it out for their chance at a debut.
This is Mars Brightest!
The next Brightest Star...
is you.
Wow.
If you win on this show, they'll guarantee your debut.
And most winners end up topping the charts.
Hang on, you've never seen it before?
You girls are gonna smash your way through the competition, and debut with a bang!
You always make it sound so easy.
I'll sign you up, then.
Huh? Hold on!
I need your height and weight, as well as your bust, waist, and hip measurements.
What is this, sexual harassment?
What? No! It's on the application form!
Really?
Just make something up. Gimme that.
Let's see... Height 129, weight 129, bust 129.
No, stop!
Oops, I sent it.
You're awful. The absolute worst.
First is the local qualifying round.
By the way, two hundred thousand people applied last year.
What?
Two hundred thousand?!
Out of those, only eight contestants get to appear on the show.
Well, for now just focus on writing songs and rehearsing.
I'd love to, but I'm broke, so I have to work.
Don't you worry about that.
Your pay for Cydonia came in.
Huh?
But we only did one song.
Excluding tax and whatever else, you're left with 980 woolong.
So little...
Actual pay...
It's almost like we're pros.
All right!
Anyway, I'll hold on to it for the time being.
I'll take good care of it.
I'm sure you will take care of it.
You're far too enigmatic.
While I understand that you possess the influence to get Intergalactic to fund us...
you never tell us what comes next.
You need to share this kind of information with us.
Just tell me when and where I need to sing.
Mars Brightest.
Huh?
You'll appear on that show.
You get twelve million in funding only to have her compete on a talent show?
Why are you making my Angela compete with amateurs?
Of course, it's highly unusual for someone of Angela's fame to participate.
However, the publicity from the program,
as well as showing that she can win a talent competition fair and square,
was seen to be an effective method to reinforce her perception as an artist.
However, there is no need to participate in the local qualifying round.
She's been invited to compete in the main event as a special guest.
Could it be that Angela's victory is already assured?
The viewers aren't stupid. They'd see through that right away.
But what if, just if, she ends up losing to some amateurs?
Are you going to lose to some amateurs?
Who do you think I am?
Hi! We're here at the venue for the Alba City qualifying round of Mars Brightest.
Just look at this crowd!
Will we see a new shining Brightest Star emerge from among those here?
I can't wait to find out!
These are your rivals.
You'll have to claw your way to the top from here.
Is this really a shortcut?
Hey guys! Are all my fans out there watching?
Pow!
Checking in here at the qualifying round for Mars Brightest!
Nerve-wracking!
Just look at all the crazy characters around!
Oh no, should I have gone heavier on the makeup?
I'm like, totally plain.
Oh, even plainer people spotted!
Hey, are you here to compete?
Huh?
Who are you?
What?! You don't recognize me?
That stings! Am I really that much of a nobody?
Isn't that Pyotr?
Huh?
You know, from Insta.
Seriously?
Look, a social media celebrity!
It's Pyotr, who's hugely popular with young girls!
Thank god... I guess I'm like, kinda famous.
What are your thoughts coming into this?
Well, I'm gonna do my best to win and get even more famous!
Oh yeah, Tuesday, didn't you run away from home?
Huh?
Are you fine with being on camera?
Oh...
Girls, you're almost up.
Oh no, oh no...
It's fine if you don't show your face, right?
Show your face? What are you talking about?
It's complicated.
What do I do?
Jeez... Guess we don't have a choice.
I'm borrowing these for a sec, buddy.
Hey!
You'll get them back later.
Well? Can you tell it's me?
You're... probably fine.
I'm IDEA, an AI singer.
I'm an advanced musical AI, made to sing.
I guess my hobby is charging.
My name's Charlotte. I'm nine years old.
I'll do my best to sing well.
My mother passed away recently.
She always used to sing me this song.
I'm a native Martian.
I'll sing in Martian.
Okay, what are your names?
Carole and...
Monday!
Huh?
What? But the application form says Tuesday.
Which is it?
Uh... Sometimes I'm Monday, and sometimes Wednesday...
Well, whatever. Can you tell me where you're from?
Oh, uh...
I don't speak the language here very good.
Uh... Carole, can you speak okay?
Oh, yeah.
I'm originally from a refugee camp back on Earth,
but I moved to Mars as a kid, and don't remember much of Earth.
Are you living with your family now?
No, I've never had parents as far back as I can remember.
Apparently they abandoned me by a church or something.
Really?
You've been through a lot, then...
You think so?
I always thought it was all pretty normal.
Okay, why don't you sing for us, then.
Are you ready?
Here we go.
You'll finally get a new manager soon.
Oh?
Angie, there isn't much time until Mars Brightest.
Why don't you come back home?
I've kept your room just like it was.
I'm worried about you living on your own.
I won't let it happen again.
Back then I had the medication side-effects to deal with.
But I've been stable lately.
Angie...
Mama, I'm doing fine on my own.
Don't worry about me.
You're welcome back home anytime you like.
Sorry, Mama.
But I can't go home.
The bedspread I've been using since I was little...
The curtains with that stupid pattern...
The stain on the wall that got there at some point I don't even remember.
The trophies I won as a child actress...
Mama's angry voice... hand...
If I stayed there, I feel like I'd suffocate.
Angela!
Angela! Angela! Angela! Angela!
Leave me alone.
Oh?
Roddy?
Hey.
What's this? Staking us out, you stalker?
No! I was in the area for work!
Were you, now?
Anyway, how did the audition go?
I was so nervous!
When do you get the results?
They're supposed to let us know in about a week.
Confident?
I don't know...
Come on, believe in yourself!
You got scouted by yours truly!
That's right. You know what he's like, but he does have an eye for talent.
What? What am I like?
Well, you know, right?
Yeah, like that.
Yeah, exactly.
Like what?!
So this is where you were, Tues.
Something wrong? You've been looking down lately.
I came to this city with no plans whatsoever,
and you've helped me so much.
Yet I don't know the first thing about you.
I've been so self-preoccupied, only worrying about stuff like being discovered after running away from home.
I'm always keeping secrets... Always so hesitant.
I have no confidence in myself.
I just got fed up with myself.
I'm so jealous of you.
I want to be like you.
It's not like I don't have my selfish moments, and I don't open up to just anyone.
But I really feel like I can speak my mind when I'm around you.
And you look so happy when you're singing.
So full of life.
Though it doesn't seem like you've noticed that yourself.
You know, Carole...
I barely remember my dad either.
My parents divorced when I was little, and I haven't seen him since.
You see, my mom is a politician.
No way! That sucks.
It really does suck.
Oh, and my brother went to Harvard.
What? An elite!
Yeah. And I'm a failure who had to drop out of school.
I didn't want to hide it from you.
Yeah.
I hope we make it onto the show.
So, Tuesday, what are your thoughts coming into this?
Huh?
What are you doing?
Practice for the interview when we get through.
How are you feeling?
Uh, well...
I actually always knew that we'd win!
Really?
Considering our talent, I'd say it was a given!
What do you think about answering with some cool shake instead of a comment?
Shake?
You know, the thing rappers do a lot.
Like this?
Or maybe this?
Come on, what is that?
Here.
Here...
And here, boom!
Well, we'd look pretty dumb if we end up failing after practicing this a bunch.
Carole.
I'm not going to worry about stuff like being on camera anymore.
I'm here because I want to sing with you.
I'm not doing anything to be ashamed of.
I want to own it.
Yeah.
And if that scary politician mother of yours finds you?
In that case...
Whatever happens, happens!
Well aren't you the cool one!
All right, I've got good news and bad news.
Which do you want first?
What do you think? I'd be devastated if we failed.
But don't you want to know the result right away?
Okay.
The bad news, then.
Please be gentle.
You're back to looking for jobs.
Huh?
The 980 woolong from Cydonia vanished without a trace.
What?
I figured I'd make the balance go up like boom.
But the little fella just couldn't keep up!
Hey, wait, what did you do?
I blew it all on dog racing.
No way!
This isn't funny!
So, next is the good news.
You see...
Did you hear? You made Mars Brightest!
Huh?
What?
You got selected as one of the eight contestants!
No way...
Really?!
Roddy!
We did it!
I was just about to tell them!
Oh, sorry.
Oh! It's a bunch of reporters!
What, seriously?
They're already here?
Hey, hold on. The shades!
I don't need them anymore!
Huh?
Congratulations on making it through the qualifier!
How do you feel, having been selected from among two hundred thousand people?
Well, uh...
Oh yeah.
Yay.