Story Chronology
The following list records the original posting dates on DeviantArt (or elsewhere) for all current stories and related images. These dates are for the ORIGINAL version. Most have been modified since their original posting.
• "The City of Clocks" - August 9, 2015
• "Ninja Chief" - July 27, 2015
• "Shelly's Story"
Part 1 - April 12, 2010
Part 2 - April 12, 2010
Part 3 - April 12, 2010
Part 4 - April 13, 2010
Part 5 - April 13, 2010
• "The Stone Gods" - August 6, 2015
• "WrestleMayhem"
Part 1 - July 20, 2015
Part 2 - July 21, 2015
Part 3 - July 22, 2015
Showing posts with label stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stories. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Friday, May 31, 2019
The City of Clocks
The City of Clocks
It all began one sweltering summer afternoon in Major City. Paul Mann and Shelly Ericson were enjoying a relaxing day off downtown, taking in the sights and sounds of that historic district. They came across an unfamiliar antique shop, which was puzzling since they had passed the address countless times and never noticed it. What was even stranger, the shop itself looked positively ancient.
Paul and Shelly entered the store to investigate and were greeted by an odd grandfatherly type intent on fussing over their every move. Evidently the owner, he was relentless in pushing a certain vintage clock on his customers. Though Shelly had no interest whatsoever in such a thing, she inspected the relic to humor the old man. Suddenly, a beam shot out of the timepiece's face and Shelly disappeared in a puff of smoke!
Paul Mann activated his Digital Changer just in time for Captain Satellite to be caught in the clock's beam, too. As Cap also winked away, the wizened shopkeeper cackled fiendishly. Light shifted around him and he stood revealed as none other than Hugo Beaumont!
Hugo's plan was insidiously clever. He had exiled both of his foes into that weird limbo known only as the Unknown Zone. Even worse, they had been dropped into the portion of the Zone called the City of Clocks. The City of Clocks was a region governed by innumerable floating clocks, but none of them were in sync. The time shift which occurred there as a result meant two people could be right by one another and yet forever separated by the passage of just a few minutes.
This was the dilemma of Captain Satellite and Shelly Ericson. Even though they were at times only inches apart, each was trapped in a different moment away from the other. If they couldn't work together, there was no hope for escape.
Finally, after conferring with Shelly via notes left in one time period to be discovered in another, Cap adjusted the frequency of his digital powersuit. He "phased" out of his own plane and kept turning the dial until he could find the one where Shelly was trapped. Their reunion was joyful, but there was still the small problem of being stuck in the City of Clocks and the Unknown Zone.
Hugo Beaumont had seen enough on his Trans-Dimensional Tube Set. He had not schemed so carefully to be denied by technological trickery! He arrived in the City of Clocks, Bombastic Blunderbuss in hand. Alas, his indiscriminate shooting proved to be his final undoing. He accidentally destroyed the only clock still controlling Cap and Shelly's movements, and by default, sent them tumbling back home. Hugo could easily free himself from the Unknown Zone with his Chronal Belt, but that was beside the point. He'd been outwitted again!
Back on Earth, Captain Satellite and Shelly Ericson stood in front of the spot where the antique shop had been. It was now just an abandoned building, with no evidence of Hugo Beaumont's meddling. They had only been gone a matter of hours, but it felt more like weeks after all the warping of time they had endured. They headed back to March Mansion, eager for an evening where they didn't have to worry what time it might be.
THE END
*EDITOR'S NOTE: Based on a title by Wandering Kotka. This picture uses this free antique clock clip art from Vintage Printables and the following free clip art from The Graphics Fairy: Antique Clock Image, Vintage Clip Art – Fancy Alarm Clock – Steampunk, Vintage Clip Art – Cute Small Alarm Clock, Vintage Clip Art – Classic Alarm Clock – Steampunk, and Antique Image – Fancy Old Clock.
Thursday, May 30, 2019
The Stone Gods
The Stone Gods
Wester Island (named for Horatio Wester, the English buccaneer who "discovered" it) is a small volcanic island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Much like its more famous neighbor Easter Island, Wester Island is the home to large monumental statues called moai. Though the origins of the Easter Island moai are understood by scholars today, those on the long-uninhabited Wester Island were unexplained until recently.
Due to its remoteness, Wester Island seemed like an ideal spot for some much-needed R&R to the Invincible Alliance. After securing the proper authorizations for their getaway, the quirky quintet piled into one of their Zip Jets and made the trek to what they hoped would be a quiet vacation. Fate, however, had other plans for our intrepid heroes.
The IA had scarcely settled in on the beach for what was intended as a week of tranquility when the tremors began. Suddenly, there was a roar from a nearby volcano! By sheer chance, or just dumb luck (?), the Invincible Alliance happened to be on the very isle where a Volcano Monster was emerging from the earth. They collectively groaned, though all of them prepared to do their duty and stop any rampages.
This particular Volcano Monster was a shaman who produced a sacred torch Blue Behemoth derisively dubbed "his lava lamp." There were no jokes when the witch doctor shook the torch and eerie vibrations emanated from the flames. To the disbelieving eyes of the Invincible Alliance, the giant stone heads of Wester Island came to life and pulled themselves from the ground, revealing powerful bodies beneath them. These moai were the ancient Stone Gods of the Volcano Monsters, and they had just been awakened from their deep slumber!
The Invincible Alliance sprang into action. Blue Behemoth and Firegirl tackled what seemed to be the biggest of all the monoliths and held it at bay as best they could. Drone Man and Ultimate American chose another, though Ulti having DM drop him onto their opponent's head did nothing when the goliath shrugged him off like he was an insect. Only Elektroid held back. There were too many other Stone Gods to fight, and the odds of his team beating back all of them seemed slim. They needed to address this problem at its source.
As stealthily as a robot can manage, Elektroid navigated a mine field of rock giants to get closer and closer to his target - the Volcano Monster shaman. When he was finally as near as he dared, he unleashed one of the devastating electrical bolts from his artificial brain. The sacred torch was shattered! With the last residual magic left in the air, the Stone Gods clambered to their original resting places and were restored as mere inert idols. The Volcano Monster retreated into the depths of liquid magma that was the home of his race. The world (and the Invincible Alliance's vacation) was saved!
His teammates were very grateful to Elektroid for winning the day. Firegirl made a point of cooing over him after she had changed into her bikini, and Blue Behemoth couldn't even find it within himself to be jealous. Drone Man and Ultimate American lavished praise on the metal man for his quick thinking. As he soaked it all in, Elektroid's mechanical heart swelled with pride. For a robot who wasn't even sure if he belonged in the human world, Wester Island had turned into the best vacation ever.
THE END
*EDITOR'S NOTE: Based on a title by Wandering Kotka. This public domain photo at Wikimedia Commons was used in the creation of this picture.
Friday, April 26, 2019
Ninja Chief
Ninja Chief
(aka: 忍者vs殭屍 - "Ninja vs. Gyonshi")
Ocelot Tombs, an American mercenary trained in ninjutsu, had embarked on a reign of terror in Taiwan. Besides the band of renegade ninjas at his command, he had gained control of a gyonshi (Chinese hopping vampire). Director of C.H.I.E.F. Rudy Boemer knew there was only one man up to the job of trouncing both ninjas and monsters in a far-off land - private investigator and freelance operative Joe Truman.
Ninja Chief is the story of how Joe Truman infiltrated the ranks of Ocelot Tombs' ninjas and destroyed them from within. Joined in the fight by Chinese-American C.H.I.E.F. agent Agatha Pao, the two warriors decisively ended the threat of the gyonshi and brought Ocelot Tombs to justice once and for all. Ninja Chief is an adventure of extraordinary magnitude featuring thrills, chills, and a toy robot!
...Wait, what? A toy robot?!?!!?? Yes, a toy robot. Just go with it.
Ninja Chief! A heart-pounding trip into a world of combat, intrigue, and horror! Coming to this screen!
Friday, April 12, 2019
WrestleMayhem - Part 3
WrestleMayhem - Part 3
Blue Behemoth and Mondo Style careened out of the ring and crashed into the Spanish announcer's table, breaking it in half. The Deacon, a known shooter, confronted Devil Dynamite and tried to take him down. Alas, human skills were no match for artificial strength, and the Deacon was swatted aside almost effortlessly. Devil Dynamite vaulted over the ropes, stole the microphone from a baffled Baxter Sweet, and returned to the squared circle to speak.
It was a surreal moment as a notorious super villain stood in the middle of a wrestling ring and berated Huey Bartek and the GWO for not booking him on the biggest wrestling show in history. He bragged about his undefeated streak as a luchador and claimed that no one had drawn more money in the annals of Mexican lucha libre. As he belittled the talent competing at WrestleMayhem, Devil Dynamite did not notice Mondo Style had recovered enough to sneak up behind him. But Mondo had not returned alone and whacked the baddie with a steel chair. He then put the boots to Devil Dynamite as the villain lay on the mat, solidifying Style's reputation as being utterly fearless and more than a little bonkers.
Fortunately for Mondo, Blue Behemoth was hot on his heels, and he was in no mood to pull punches with Devil Dynamite. He lifted the felon onto his shoulders and delivered an airplane spin that left everyone who saw it dizzy. BB unceremoniously dumped Devil Dynamite onto the canvas and he and Mondo delivered simultaneous elbow drops on their unconscious enemy. As both champ and hero covered the red-suited rogue, the Deacon crawled over, counted three on Devil Dynamite, and called for the bell as he raised the hands of both Blue Behemoth and Mondo Style in victory.
Officially, the bout would be ruled a no-contest. But everyone who saw it knew it was far bigger than what the final result might indicate. In helping Blue Behemoth subdue a super villain, Mondo Style had gotten a better rub than even beating the hero would have earned him. As the two combatants expressed their "new" respect for one another in post-match interviews, Devil Dynamite was carted off by the authorities. Later that evening, he would escape from custody via unknown means, but he chose to make a getaway rather than pursue his differences with the GWO.
WrestleMayhem was the turning point that proved the Global Wrestling Organization could succeed on a national and even international stage. It propelled Mondo Style to the pinnacle of stardom, and got everyone talking about pro wrestling in a positive light (for once). Huey Bartek kicked back and smiled. He had done it.
As for Blue Behemoth, once was enough in fulfilling his wrestling daydreams and he retired from active competition after the single match. He did get a lot of mileage out of kidding his teammates afterward for not coming to his aid when Devil Dynamite attacked. "Come on BB!" they protested. "We thought it was part of the act!"
THE END
WrestleMayhem
New Moon Garden, Major City
Presented by the Global Wrestling Organization (GWO) - Huey Bartek, Promoter
Commentators: Reese Bower and Baxter Sweet
Ring Announcer: Boyce Pierson
Match Results:
* Raoul Huerta defeated The Okapi Kid with a flying body press (3:56)
* Ned Debussy won by submission over Ben McNeil using the figure-four leglock (2:12)
* "Bad Dog" Leroy Edwards pinned Werner Koslowski following a powerslam (8:43)
* "Dangerous" Don Jackson and Dr. Zono wrestled to a time limit draw in a scientific match (20:00)
(Don Jackson was recognized as GJPW Super Great Champion at the time. According to contractual stipulation, the match was non-title because it was sanctioned only by the GWO.)
* "Gorgeous" Glen Starr won by disqualification over Man Mountain Muldoon (10:05)
(After referee Bart Roland was knocked out by a collision with Starr and Muldoon, Starr grabbed Muldoon's horseshoe from the timekeeper's table and hit his opponent with it twice. Muldoon overpowered Starr to retrieve his horseshoe just as Roland regained consciousness. Roland called for the bell and an automatic DQ when Muldoon clobbered Starr with the horseshoe and tossed him over the top rope.)
* Leah Kalani defeated GWO Women's Champion Winnie Reilly by reversing a small package to win the title (7:37)
(Leah Kalani was a special challenger booked through Global Japan Pro Wrestling. This was her debut in a GWO ring.)
* GWO Tag Team Champions "Wild" Bill Jackson & "Hotshot" Johnny Flash retained their championship by defeating the Lasers. (22:24)
(Lasers manager G.B. Hicks distracted referee Jerry Fleischer while Laser I loaded his mask with a foreign object to headbutt Bill Jackson. Jackson ducked out of the way and Laser II took the headbutt instead. Jackson rolled up Laser I for the pinfall while Johnny Flash prevented a woozy Laser II from making the save.)
* GWO World Champion Mondo Style vs. Blue Behemoth (special referee: the Deacon) ended in a no-contest when Devil Dynamite interfered and attacked all three participants. (18:49)
Blue Behemoth and Mondo Style careened out of the ring and crashed into the Spanish announcer's table, breaking it in half. The Deacon, a known shooter, confronted Devil Dynamite and tried to take him down. Alas, human skills were no match for artificial strength, and the Deacon was swatted aside almost effortlessly. Devil Dynamite vaulted over the ropes, stole the microphone from a baffled Baxter Sweet, and returned to the squared circle to speak.
It was a surreal moment as a notorious super villain stood in the middle of a wrestling ring and berated Huey Bartek and the GWO for not booking him on the biggest wrestling show in history. He bragged about his undefeated streak as a luchador and claimed that no one had drawn more money in the annals of Mexican lucha libre. As he belittled the talent competing at WrestleMayhem, Devil Dynamite did not notice Mondo Style had recovered enough to sneak up behind him. But Mondo had not returned alone and whacked the baddie with a steel chair. He then put the boots to Devil Dynamite as the villain lay on the mat, solidifying Style's reputation as being utterly fearless and more than a little bonkers.
Fortunately for Mondo, Blue Behemoth was hot on his heels, and he was in no mood to pull punches with Devil Dynamite. He lifted the felon onto his shoulders and delivered an airplane spin that left everyone who saw it dizzy. BB unceremoniously dumped Devil Dynamite onto the canvas and he and Mondo delivered simultaneous elbow drops on their unconscious enemy. As both champ and hero covered the red-suited rogue, the Deacon crawled over, counted three on Devil Dynamite, and called for the bell as he raised the hands of both Blue Behemoth and Mondo Style in victory.
Officially, the bout would be ruled a no-contest. But everyone who saw it knew it was far bigger than what the final result might indicate. In helping Blue Behemoth subdue a super villain, Mondo Style had gotten a better rub than even beating the hero would have earned him. As the two combatants expressed their "new" respect for one another in post-match interviews, Devil Dynamite was carted off by the authorities. Later that evening, he would escape from custody via unknown means, but he chose to make a getaway rather than pursue his differences with the GWO.
WrestleMayhem was the turning point that proved the Global Wrestling Organization could succeed on a national and even international stage. It propelled Mondo Style to the pinnacle of stardom, and got everyone talking about pro wrestling in a positive light (for once). Huey Bartek kicked back and smiled. He had done it.
As for Blue Behemoth, once was enough in fulfilling his wrestling daydreams and he retired from active competition after the single match. He did get a lot of mileage out of kidding his teammates afterward for not coming to his aid when Devil Dynamite attacked. "Come on BB!" they protested. "We thought it was part of the act!"
THE END
WrestleMayhem
New Moon Garden, Major City
Presented by the Global Wrestling Organization (GWO) - Huey Bartek, Promoter
Commentators: Reese Bower and Baxter Sweet
Ring Announcer: Boyce Pierson
Match Results:
* Raoul Huerta defeated The Okapi Kid with a flying body press (3:56)
* Ned Debussy won by submission over Ben McNeil using the figure-four leglock (2:12)
* "Bad Dog" Leroy Edwards pinned Werner Koslowski following a powerslam (8:43)
* "Dangerous" Don Jackson and Dr. Zono wrestled to a time limit draw in a scientific match (20:00)
(Don Jackson was recognized as GJPW Super Great Champion at the time. According to contractual stipulation, the match was non-title because it was sanctioned only by the GWO.)
* "Gorgeous" Glen Starr won by disqualification over Man Mountain Muldoon (10:05)
(After referee Bart Roland was knocked out by a collision with Starr and Muldoon, Starr grabbed Muldoon's horseshoe from the timekeeper's table and hit his opponent with it twice. Muldoon overpowered Starr to retrieve his horseshoe just as Roland regained consciousness. Roland called for the bell and an automatic DQ when Muldoon clobbered Starr with the horseshoe and tossed him over the top rope.)
* Leah Kalani defeated GWO Women's Champion Winnie Reilly by reversing a small package to win the title (7:37)
(Leah Kalani was a special challenger booked through Global Japan Pro Wrestling. This was her debut in a GWO ring.)
* GWO Tag Team Champions "Wild" Bill Jackson & "Hotshot" Johnny Flash retained their championship by defeating the Lasers. (22:24)
(Lasers manager G.B. Hicks distracted referee Jerry Fleischer while Laser I loaded his mask with a foreign object to headbutt Bill Jackson. Jackson ducked out of the way and Laser II took the headbutt instead. Jackson rolled up Laser I for the pinfall while Johnny Flash prevented a woozy Laser II from making the save.)
* GWO World Champion Mondo Style vs. Blue Behemoth (special referee: the Deacon) ended in a no-contest when Devil Dynamite interfered and attacked all three participants. (18:49)
Thursday, April 11, 2019
WrestleMayhem - Part 2
WrestleMayhem - Part 2
Public interest in the spectacle of Blue Behemoth meeting Mondo Style in the ring ended up far surpassing everyone's expectations. It was a given it would get coverage in the usual magazines, such as The Sleuth Gazette and Wrestling Prevue. But who could have anticipated stories from important newspapers like The Major City Courier, The Major City Meteor-News, and The El Oceano Endeavor? DeKalb promoting it was no surprise, but their primary competitors MBS and UBC got in on the party, too. Even the Worldwide Press International (WPI) wire service assigned a special correspondent. It was the most attention professional wrestling had received in decades, and Huey Bartek loved every minute of it.
There was a capacity crowd in the New Moon Garden at bell time for WrestleMayhem. A number of famous faces were among the spectators, and the GWO made a point of showing them on-screen for their closed-circuit TV customers watching at home. The Invincible Alliance was there to cheer on their teammate, though they attended in civilian clothes (not that this mattered much for Elektroid). A nonplussed Whitney DeKalb was seated with several other DeKalb Network executives, and tried her best to look interested. Playboy Dick Major and his wife Fanny couldn't even manage that - they were just there for the photo op. Avant-garde actor Alan Norby, on the other hand, could barely contain his enthusiasm. He suggested to a ringside interviewer he might challenge the winner of the feature bout. Thankfully for the scrawny Norby, he thought better of this damn fool notion.
WrestleMayhem's undercard definitely lived up to the promotional hype. There were seven matches in all prior to the main event, and several were colorful enough to have toplined any arena in the world. Highlights included a continuation of the feud between "Gorgeous" Glen Starr and Man Mountain Muldoon and a tag team title showdown between champions "Wild" Bill Jackson and "Hotshot" Johnny Flash and the mysterious masked Lasers. Perhaps the most thrilling and controversial bout was GWO Women's Champion Winnie Reilly losing her belt to an unheralded challenger from Hawaii named Leah Kalani.
After the preliminaries were completed, it was time for the feature attraction of the evening. Both Blue Behemoth and Mondo Style made their way to the ring amid much pomp and fanfare. The Deacon, looking smart in his white mask and striped referee's shirt, gave instructions to the two adversaries after introductions and asked them to shake hands. They declined in a pointed display of mutual (feigned) disdain. The bell rang and it was time to lock up!
It only took a couple of minutes for Mondo to realize he had a serious problem. Though BB was both a fan and very cooperative, he had never worked an actual match before. Mondo could usually carry an inexperienced opponent, but Blue Behemoth was no ordinary foe. The size differential between them was huge, yet BB's offense looked weak and unconvincing as he pulled his punches so as not to stiff his human rival. Make no mistake, Mondo appreciated his cohort not killing him. It was just that their match was going to die quickly at this rate.
In the dressing room, the rest of the boys (and girls) watched the monitors and could sense something was wrong. This was likely their biggest payday ever, and if the main tanked, well...no one wanted to think about the consequences. Only Huey Bartek, of all people, was calm, cool, and collected as the match played out. His confidence would have been reassuring had it not seemed so disconnected from reality.
Mondo Style knew it was his responsibility as the veteran and the one calling the match to jazz things up. Besides, if he was as good a worker as he thought, surely he could salvage the situation. He whispered to Blue Behemoth to follow his lead and then unleashed a flurry of punches that sent his opponent "reeling." Since BB was worried about hurting him, he would dominate the action as much as he could and let the superhero react accordingly. Possibly getting booed for being so "vicious" to a beloved do-gooder was a small price to pay if it brought the people to their feet.
Suddenly, there was a disturbance in the crowd as a man raced down and jumped onto the ring apron. Mondo was busy holding BB in a headlock, and they could not break fast enough as H.O. Godfrey climbed through the ropes and trasmuted into his bootleg powersuit. The villainous Devil Dynamite then threw both wrestler and hero out of the ring. This was blatant outside interference, which would have been a fine addition to the show...except it was a total surprise to everyone and not part of the plan.
TO BE CONTINUED
Public interest in the spectacle of Blue Behemoth meeting Mondo Style in the ring ended up far surpassing everyone's expectations. It was a given it would get coverage in the usual magazines, such as The Sleuth Gazette and Wrestling Prevue. But who could have anticipated stories from important newspapers like The Major City Courier, The Major City Meteor-News, and The El Oceano Endeavor? DeKalb promoting it was no surprise, but their primary competitors MBS and UBC got in on the party, too. Even the Worldwide Press International (WPI) wire service assigned a special correspondent. It was the most attention professional wrestling had received in decades, and Huey Bartek loved every minute of it.
There was a capacity crowd in the New Moon Garden at bell time for WrestleMayhem. A number of famous faces were among the spectators, and the GWO made a point of showing them on-screen for their closed-circuit TV customers watching at home. The Invincible Alliance was there to cheer on their teammate, though they attended in civilian clothes (not that this mattered much for Elektroid). A nonplussed Whitney DeKalb was seated with several other DeKalb Network executives, and tried her best to look interested. Playboy Dick Major and his wife Fanny couldn't even manage that - they were just there for the photo op. Avant-garde actor Alan Norby, on the other hand, could barely contain his enthusiasm. He suggested to a ringside interviewer he might challenge the winner of the feature bout. Thankfully for the scrawny Norby, he thought better of this damn fool notion.
WrestleMayhem's undercard definitely lived up to the promotional hype. There were seven matches in all prior to the main event, and several were colorful enough to have toplined any arena in the world. Highlights included a continuation of the feud between "Gorgeous" Glen Starr and Man Mountain Muldoon and a tag team title showdown between champions "Wild" Bill Jackson and "Hotshot" Johnny Flash and the mysterious masked Lasers. Perhaps the most thrilling and controversial bout was GWO Women's Champion Winnie Reilly losing her belt to an unheralded challenger from Hawaii named Leah Kalani.
After the preliminaries were completed, it was time for the feature attraction of the evening. Both Blue Behemoth and Mondo Style made their way to the ring amid much pomp and fanfare. The Deacon, looking smart in his white mask and striped referee's shirt, gave instructions to the two adversaries after introductions and asked them to shake hands. They declined in a pointed display of mutual (feigned) disdain. The bell rang and it was time to lock up!
It only took a couple of minutes for Mondo to realize he had a serious problem. Though BB was both a fan and very cooperative, he had never worked an actual match before. Mondo could usually carry an inexperienced opponent, but Blue Behemoth was no ordinary foe. The size differential between them was huge, yet BB's offense looked weak and unconvincing as he pulled his punches so as not to stiff his human rival. Make no mistake, Mondo appreciated his cohort not killing him. It was just that their match was going to die quickly at this rate.
In the dressing room, the rest of the boys (and girls) watched the monitors and could sense something was wrong. This was likely their biggest payday ever, and if the main tanked, well...no one wanted to think about the consequences. Only Huey Bartek, of all people, was calm, cool, and collected as the match played out. His confidence would have been reassuring had it not seemed so disconnected from reality.
Mondo Style knew it was his responsibility as the veteran and the one calling the match to jazz things up. Besides, if he was as good a worker as he thought, surely he could salvage the situation. He whispered to Blue Behemoth to follow his lead and then unleashed a flurry of punches that sent his opponent "reeling." Since BB was worried about hurting him, he would dominate the action as much as he could and let the superhero react accordingly. Possibly getting booed for being so "vicious" to a beloved do-gooder was a small price to pay if it brought the people to their feet.
Suddenly, there was a disturbance in the crowd as a man raced down and jumped onto the ring apron. Mondo was busy holding BB in a headlock, and they could not break fast enough as H.O. Godfrey climbed through the ropes and trasmuted into his bootleg powersuit. The villainous Devil Dynamite then threw both wrestler and hero out of the ring. This was blatant outside interference, which would have been a fine addition to the show...except it was a total surprise to everyone and not part of the plan.
TO BE CONTINUED
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
WrestleMayhem - Part 1
WrestleMayhem - Part 1
Promoter Huey Bartek's Global Wrestling Organization (GWO) scored a major coup when it landed a weekly primetime slot on the DeKalb Television Network. For Whitney DeKalb, it was a move aimed solely at increasing DeKalb's ratings to something approaching respectability. For the GWO, it was a rare opportunity for national exposure after years of being restricted to Major City's WMC and their own regional syndicated affiliates (not all of which were even DeKalb stations).
The GWO made the most of its big chance by improving its product considerably. There was talk among wrestling fans that the company had embarked on a new era of greatness with their TV deal. But even with all the gains, Huey Bartek was still not satisfied. He saw the potential to reach unprecedented levels with the GWO. He just needed the right angle to put it over the top.
The pivotal moment for the GWO began as just another TV taping at Major City's McDougal Auditorium. Yet this was an evening with a difference, because the superhero Blue Behemoth was a noticeable part of the crowd. He was quite gleeful in mugging for the cameras, and seemed more interested in playing to the audience than watching the action.
That all changed when GWO World Champion Mondo Style stepped into the ring. Style was facing Kit Katsaboulas and began to demolish the hapless jobber in short order. This finally caught Blue Behemoth's attention, and the ape man loudly heckled the champ. He even went to so far as tossing popcorn at Mondo's head.
Style did not take kindly to the insults hurled by BB. After gaining a quick pinfall over his opponent, he remained in the ring and motioned announcer Reese Bower to join him with his microphone. When Bower agreed, Mondo cut a devastating promo on Blue Behemoth right in front of him and everyone else in attendance, plus all the people watching the program. The upshot was when Mondo Style challenged BB to meet him in a match with the GWO title on the line.
Blue Behemoth was undaunted by the brazen words of Mondo Style, but his answer would have to wait another week. The GWO show opened its next installment with a prerecorded interview conducted at Invincible Alliance HQ between BB and Roxanne (Firegirl) Prize. In it, the hirsute hero accepted Style's challenge and said he would meet him whenever and wherever the GWO wanted. This was followed by the stunning announcement by Huey Bartek that the Behemoth/Style match would headline a "super card" dubbed WrestleMayhem at Major City's New Moon Garden.
News of WrestleMayhem spread throughout the wrestling industry. With such an enticing feature attraction, it looked like a lock to break all box office records. Bartek worked with his associate offices in Japan and Mexico, GJPW (Global Japan Pro Wrestling) and GMLL (Global Mexicana de Lucha Libre) respectively, to sign the best grapplers possible for the extravaganza. Considering the amount of money he was pouring into the enterprise, and the potential windfall it represented, he wanted to ensure he put on a stacked card that would draw from top to bottom.
Part of this careful planning involved bringing Blue Behemoth in for the top secret meeting to lay out his match. BB had been the one who suggested the angle in the first place when he had run into Mondo Style at a kosher deli. No matter what he said in public, Blue Behemoth was an unabashed fan of pro wrestling, and also smart to the business. He figured capitalizing off his crimefighting fame could do nothing but help the GWO and Mondo.
The booking meeting, however, was difficult at best. The dilemma for BB, Style, Bartek, booker Baxter Sweet (retired wrestler & heel TV analyst), and actor/wrestler Reed Ganza ("appointed" special referee in his masked identity as the Deacon) was how to have the match play out in such a way as to be both satisfying and believable for the fans. After all, Mondo might have been a peak-conditioned athlete, but Blue Behemoth was a massive, beast-like superhero. Suspension of disbelief could only take them so far.
Finally, after much discussion, the plan was to have Mondo hoist BB into a gorilla press (no symbolism there!) at around the thirty minute mark. The (gimmicked) ring would then collapse under the strain of their titanic battle and both participants would be counted out due to being unable to continue. This stalemate would enable both of them to claim they hadn't lost and still look strong.
Reed Ganza objected to this plan on the logical grounds that you can't be counted out if the ring is gone. No one was really satisfied with the ending, but there was a dearth of better ideas for what would be the centerpiece of the night. Huey Bartek ended the meeting with the calm assurance to everyone that the plan was fine, and he'd left them know if there were any changes necessary.
TO BE CONTINUED
Promoter Huey Bartek's Global Wrestling Organization (GWO) scored a major coup when it landed a weekly primetime slot on the DeKalb Television Network. For Whitney DeKalb, it was a move aimed solely at increasing DeKalb's ratings to something approaching respectability. For the GWO, it was a rare opportunity for national exposure after years of being restricted to Major City's WMC and their own regional syndicated affiliates (not all of which were even DeKalb stations).
The GWO made the most of its big chance by improving its product considerably. There was talk among wrestling fans that the company had embarked on a new era of greatness with their TV deal. But even with all the gains, Huey Bartek was still not satisfied. He saw the potential to reach unprecedented levels with the GWO. He just needed the right angle to put it over the top.
The pivotal moment for the GWO began as just another TV taping at Major City's McDougal Auditorium. Yet this was an evening with a difference, because the superhero Blue Behemoth was a noticeable part of the crowd. He was quite gleeful in mugging for the cameras, and seemed more interested in playing to the audience than watching the action.
That all changed when GWO World Champion Mondo Style stepped into the ring. Style was facing Kit Katsaboulas and began to demolish the hapless jobber in short order. This finally caught Blue Behemoth's attention, and the ape man loudly heckled the champ. He even went to so far as tossing popcorn at Mondo's head.
Style did not take kindly to the insults hurled by BB. After gaining a quick pinfall over his opponent, he remained in the ring and motioned announcer Reese Bower to join him with his microphone. When Bower agreed, Mondo cut a devastating promo on Blue Behemoth right in front of him and everyone else in attendance, plus all the people watching the program. The upshot was when Mondo Style challenged BB to meet him in a match with the GWO title on the line.
Blue Behemoth was undaunted by the brazen words of Mondo Style, but his answer would have to wait another week. The GWO show opened its next installment with a prerecorded interview conducted at Invincible Alliance HQ between BB and Roxanne (Firegirl) Prize. In it, the hirsute hero accepted Style's challenge and said he would meet him whenever and wherever the GWO wanted. This was followed by the stunning announcement by Huey Bartek that the Behemoth/Style match would headline a "super card" dubbed WrestleMayhem at Major City's New Moon Garden.
News of WrestleMayhem spread throughout the wrestling industry. With such an enticing feature attraction, it looked like a lock to break all box office records. Bartek worked with his associate offices in Japan and Mexico, GJPW (Global Japan Pro Wrestling) and GMLL (Global Mexicana de Lucha Libre) respectively, to sign the best grapplers possible for the extravaganza. Considering the amount of money he was pouring into the enterprise, and the potential windfall it represented, he wanted to ensure he put on a stacked card that would draw from top to bottom.
Part of this careful planning involved bringing Blue Behemoth in for the top secret meeting to lay out his match. BB had been the one who suggested the angle in the first place when he had run into Mondo Style at a kosher deli. No matter what he said in public, Blue Behemoth was an unabashed fan of pro wrestling, and also smart to the business. He figured capitalizing off his crimefighting fame could do nothing but help the GWO and Mondo.
The booking meeting, however, was difficult at best. The dilemma for BB, Style, Bartek, booker Baxter Sweet (retired wrestler & heel TV analyst), and actor/wrestler Reed Ganza ("appointed" special referee in his masked identity as the Deacon) was how to have the match play out in such a way as to be both satisfying and believable for the fans. After all, Mondo might have been a peak-conditioned athlete, but Blue Behemoth was a massive, beast-like superhero. Suspension of disbelief could only take them so far.
Finally, after much discussion, the plan was to have Mondo hoist BB into a gorilla press (no symbolism there!) at around the thirty minute mark. The (gimmicked) ring would then collapse under the strain of their titanic battle and both participants would be counted out due to being unable to continue. This stalemate would enable both of them to claim they hadn't lost and still look strong.
Reed Ganza objected to this plan on the logical grounds that you can't be counted out if the ring is gone. No one was really satisfied with the ending, but there was a dearth of better ideas for what would be the centerpiece of the night. Huey Bartek ended the meeting with the calm assurance to everyone that the plan was fine, and he'd left them know if there were any changes necessary.
TO BE CONTINUED
Friday, February 15, 2019
Shelly's Story - Part 5
Shelly's Story - Part 5
Paul Mann, my boss and the guy I had been sort of falling for, was designing a powersuit that would make his “Captain Satellite” nickname come true and turn him into a superhero. I shook my head to clear the cobwebs. It was a lot to put together at four o'clock in the morning.
The way Paul explained it, he'd come up with the idea the day that lunatic had attacked him - the day I'd saved him. Turns out the guy was an agent of some group called Third World, and they had threatened Paul in the past. That incident hadn't been the first time they had tried to carry out one of their threats, and Paul was sure it wouldn't be the last. He'd hired me partially because he needed someone to prepare him for the action side of superheroing, since he had the science part mastered.
“Partially? Why else did you hire me?” I asked.
“Because you're the first person in a long time I thought I could trust,” he replied. “I didn't tell you about this because it sounded too insane.”
He was right about that. But still, it did make a certain kind of sense. Kinda. I agreed to help Paul make his Captain Satellite dream come true. Only now, I was fully in on the secret. We worked harder than ever, totally dedicated to making it happen. Weeks later, Paul activated his Digital Changer (imagine a really cool watch) and it transmitted the uniform directly onto his body. I held my breath as he calmly stepped out his third story window and shot into the sky.
After ten minutes, the new Captain Satellite returned from his first test flight. I swear, I don't think I've ever seen a bigger smile than Paul's when he pulled off that mask. He took me into his arms and hugged me. It was the first time he'd ever let his guard down enough to even manage something as simple as a hug.
Captain Satellite soon made his official debut battling a Third World squadron holding hostages. Paul was even more in demand than ever, and the people who had made fun of him weren't talking anymore. He kept asking me if I wanted my own powersuit, but I always turned him down. I'd go along with this Captain Satellite business, but I wasn't about to wear a costume. I like to handle problems a little more realistically.
That was what Paul - what Captain Satellite - needed. He needed someone to connect him to reality, someone who wasn't hopelessly caught up in out-of-this-world craziness. He needed someone to watch his back, because he still wasn't where he needed to be as a fighter. He needed...well, me. I was still his bodyguard, and I was going to make sure I earned that title.
Everything changed all over again when we found ourselves held captive in a flying saucer somewhere in the neighborhood of Neptune. Don't even ask how that happened. What you need to know is that Cap had been zapped by some sort of beam that had drained his suit's power and knocked him for a loop. As he lay on the cold floor of the spaceship, he crawled over to me. I can't remember a spot where it all felt so desperate and hopeless as it did at that moment.
“Shelly,” he gasped as I dragged him up. “If we don't make it out of this, I just want you to know...I love you.”
I responded to this by punching him. I wouldn't exactly call it one of my finest hours.
“Why did you wait until now?” I screamed. “And we are getting out of this! You aren't giving up!”
We did get out of it, of course. I mean, I'm telling you about it today. And when we got home, I yanked that silly mask of his off and kissed Paul Mann for the very first time. It was worth the wait.
If you had told me when I was on that plane flying from Texas to Major City that someday I was going to be a superhero's partner, and an action hero in my own right, I would have told you that you had lost your mind. If you had added that I'd wind up with a boyfriend who was one of the richest and most intelligent men on Earth, I would have laughed in your face. It all sounds way too unbelievable. But it happened.
Excitement? Adventure? I've gotten them in spades. I wouldn't trade this life for anything.
THE END
Paul Mann, my boss and the guy I had been sort of falling for, was designing a powersuit that would make his “Captain Satellite” nickname come true and turn him into a superhero. I shook my head to clear the cobwebs. It was a lot to put together at four o'clock in the morning.
The way Paul explained it, he'd come up with the idea the day that lunatic had attacked him - the day I'd saved him. Turns out the guy was an agent of some group called Third World, and they had threatened Paul in the past. That incident hadn't been the first time they had tried to carry out one of their threats, and Paul was sure it wouldn't be the last. He'd hired me partially because he needed someone to prepare him for the action side of superheroing, since he had the science part mastered.
“Partially? Why else did you hire me?” I asked.
“Because you're the first person in a long time I thought I could trust,” he replied. “I didn't tell you about this because it sounded too insane.”
He was right about that. But still, it did make a certain kind of sense. Kinda. I agreed to help Paul make his Captain Satellite dream come true. Only now, I was fully in on the secret. We worked harder than ever, totally dedicated to making it happen. Weeks later, Paul activated his Digital Changer (imagine a really cool watch) and it transmitted the uniform directly onto his body. I held my breath as he calmly stepped out his third story window and shot into the sky.
After ten minutes, the new Captain Satellite returned from his first test flight. I swear, I don't think I've ever seen a bigger smile than Paul's when he pulled off that mask. He took me into his arms and hugged me. It was the first time he'd ever let his guard down enough to even manage something as simple as a hug.
Captain Satellite soon made his official debut battling a Third World squadron holding hostages. Paul was even more in demand than ever, and the people who had made fun of him weren't talking anymore. He kept asking me if I wanted my own powersuit, but I always turned him down. I'd go along with this Captain Satellite business, but I wasn't about to wear a costume. I like to handle problems a little more realistically.
That was what Paul - what Captain Satellite - needed. He needed someone to connect him to reality, someone who wasn't hopelessly caught up in out-of-this-world craziness. He needed someone to watch his back, because he still wasn't where he needed to be as a fighter. He needed...well, me. I was still his bodyguard, and I was going to make sure I earned that title.
Everything changed all over again when we found ourselves held captive in a flying saucer somewhere in the neighborhood of Neptune. Don't even ask how that happened. What you need to know is that Cap had been zapped by some sort of beam that had drained his suit's power and knocked him for a loop. As he lay on the cold floor of the spaceship, he crawled over to me. I can't remember a spot where it all felt so desperate and hopeless as it did at that moment.
“Shelly,” he gasped as I dragged him up. “If we don't make it out of this, I just want you to know...I love you.”
I responded to this by punching him. I wouldn't exactly call it one of my finest hours.
“Why did you wait until now?” I screamed. “And we are getting out of this! You aren't giving up!”
We did get out of it, of course. I mean, I'm telling you about it today. And when we got home, I yanked that silly mask of his off and kissed Paul Mann for the very first time. It was worth the wait.
If you had told me when I was on that plane flying from Texas to Major City that someday I was going to be a superhero's partner, and an action hero in my own right, I would have told you that you had lost your mind. If you had added that I'd wind up with a boyfriend who was one of the richest and most intelligent men on Earth, I would have laughed in your face. It all sounds way too unbelievable. But it happened.
Excitement? Adventure? I've gotten them in spades. I wouldn't trade this life for anything.
THE END
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Shelly's Story - Part 4
Shelly's Story - Part 4
Working for Paul - he insisted I drop the “Mr. Mann” business - was definitely different. For one, his estate is beautiful and ridiculous. He has peculiar tastes, and you can see it in his huge mansion. I'm still not sure I've been in every room of it.
For the first few months, I stopped by after classes when I had the chance. I'd help him out in his lab if he needed a hand, but more often than not, we'd end up in his gym or on the firing range. That was where I did my best to teach him how to fight, how to shoot, and lot of other physical activities he'd never even tried. He told me that he'd always gotten by with his intellect, and that wasn't hard to believe after I'd seen how he held a gun and threw a punch before I got to him.
I decided that I should live up to the “bodyguard” part of my job description when my schedule allowed, and accompany Paul to some of his engagements. I always made sure I was in front of him or discreetly behind him back then - we were never seen side by side, or God forbid, holding hands. It wasn't like that at all.
And it wasn't. I kept half-expecting Paul to make a pass at me, but he never did. I would have been out the door if he had, but he always held true to his word. Eventually, I just took it for granted he'd always be straight with me. He has never disappointed me either, though there are still things he keeps to himself.
Honestly, as the months passed, I found myself growing really fond of the guy. Yeah, he was rich and intelligent; I knew that before I met him. I also knew he was really handsome, because I'd seen his picture enough. But there was something about that boyish charm and the wide-eyed way he viewed the world that was appealing. I felt a twinge of regret from time to time that, apparently, he had shut off “those” feelings entirely when Roxanne Prize had hurt him.
I graduated from MCU in record time, thank you very much, and used that as an excuse to hang around the mansion a lot more. I hung onto my own apartment, but many a night, I slept over after marathon research or training sessions. In my own room, of course. Paul was nothing if not proper.
One particular evening, I was dozing off in front of the TV in the main living room when the mansion was rocked by an explosion. Jarred awake, I rushed through the halls, calling for Paul to make sure he was all right. What I ended up finding was nothing like what I expected.
Paul was fine...except covered in soot. One of his little projects had gone haywire and blown up. That was nothing new, even though they usually weren't so loud. The only difference was I found him in a secret underground lab when I accidentally triggered a doorway through the grandfather clock.
It turned out there was a whole complex beneath the mansion. It was like something out of a sci-fi movie. Boy, if I had only known then. I'd never seen Paul look so embarrassed, and I think he was really afraid I was going to quit right there. I was confused, but not really angry. What was all this about?
That was when Paul explained to me he intended to become a superhero.
Oh. Really?
TO BE CONTINUED
Working for Paul - he insisted I drop the “Mr. Mann” business - was definitely different. For one, his estate is beautiful and ridiculous. He has peculiar tastes, and you can see it in his huge mansion. I'm still not sure I've been in every room of it.
For the first few months, I stopped by after classes when I had the chance. I'd help him out in his lab if he needed a hand, but more often than not, we'd end up in his gym or on the firing range. That was where I did my best to teach him how to fight, how to shoot, and lot of other physical activities he'd never even tried. He told me that he'd always gotten by with his intellect, and that wasn't hard to believe after I'd seen how he held a gun and threw a punch before I got to him.
I decided that I should live up to the “bodyguard” part of my job description when my schedule allowed, and accompany Paul to some of his engagements. I always made sure I was in front of him or discreetly behind him back then - we were never seen side by side, or God forbid, holding hands. It wasn't like that at all.
And it wasn't. I kept half-expecting Paul to make a pass at me, but he never did. I would have been out the door if he had, but he always held true to his word. Eventually, I just took it for granted he'd always be straight with me. He has never disappointed me either, though there are still things he keeps to himself.
Honestly, as the months passed, I found myself growing really fond of the guy. Yeah, he was rich and intelligent; I knew that before I met him. I also knew he was really handsome, because I'd seen his picture enough. But there was something about that boyish charm and the wide-eyed way he viewed the world that was appealing. I felt a twinge of regret from time to time that, apparently, he had shut off “those” feelings entirely when Roxanne Prize had hurt him.
I graduated from MCU in record time, thank you very much, and used that as an excuse to hang around the mansion a lot more. I hung onto my own apartment, but many a night, I slept over after marathon research or training sessions. In my own room, of course. Paul was nothing if not proper.
One particular evening, I was dozing off in front of the TV in the main living room when the mansion was rocked by an explosion. Jarred awake, I rushed through the halls, calling for Paul to make sure he was all right. What I ended up finding was nothing like what I expected.
Paul was fine...except covered in soot. One of his little projects had gone haywire and blown up. That was nothing new, even though they usually weren't so loud. The only difference was I found him in a secret underground lab when I accidentally triggered a doorway through the grandfather clock.
It turned out there was a whole complex beneath the mansion. It was like something out of a sci-fi movie. Boy, if I had only known then. I'd never seen Paul look so embarrassed, and I think he was really afraid I was going to quit right there. I was confused, but not really angry. What was all this about?
That was when Paul explained to me he intended to become a superhero.
Oh. Really?
TO BE CONTINUED
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Shelly's Story - Part 3
Shelly's Story - Part 3
I kept that appointment, even though it was a little weird. OK, a lot weird. Still, Chez Café was a public place. What could it hurt?
When I got there, the cafe was one of those intimate little restaurants, which was kind of a surprise. I figured someone with Mr. Mann's money would go for the bigger and fancier places to eat. I just didn't realize how much he valued his privacy.
I was escorted to Mr. Mann's table, and we had a pleasant enough chat. He asked about me and my opinions on a lot of things, and actually listened to my answers. That was rare. I was impressed by what he had to say, especially since he made a point to look at my FACE while we were talking.
Finally, he leaned over and said, “Shelly, I'd like to make you an offer.”
Oh boy, I thought, here it comes. I knew this was too good to be true.
“I want to hire you as my personal assistant. But really, you'd...”
Uh huh, right, “personal assistant.” I knew the code. Thanks, but no thanks.
“...be my bodyguard.”
Huh? That wasn't how I'd seen that sentence ending. I grilled Mr. Mann as to why he didn't already have regular bodyguards or personal assistants or in fact anybody. He claimed that they “hindered his work.” I asked him what that meant. He clammed up.
So, what were the terms? Freedom to come and go as I pleased. Set my own hours. I didn't even have to follow him everywhere all the time. All he needed me to do was assist him with his research, and give him pointers in self-defense when I was available. Bodyguard duties would be at my discretion. I'd be on the payroll for a lot of money, and free to decide what my job description involved.
No hanky panky? “None.”
What about his personal life? “I don't have one.”
That was a surprise, too. I knew he'd been involved with that reporter Roxanne Prize for a couple of years, but that had ended badly. He'd sort of withdrawn socially since then, and some jerks in the media had even dubbed him “Captain Satellite.” They said it was because his mind was always in orbit, instead of on Earth. Creeps.
It was my turn to look into Paul Mann's eyes, and what I saw was a sincerity that would have been hard to fake. Plus, he sure came across as really damn innocent for someone who was one of the richest people in the world. I chose to trust him, until he gave me a reason to hit the road. Maybe it was all a put-on, but I wanted to find out for myself. Besides, if this was real, it would be the sweetest job ever.
“Mr. Mann, you've got a deal,” I said, and we shook hands.
TO BE CONTINUED
I kept that appointment, even though it was a little weird. OK, a lot weird. Still, Chez Café was a public place. What could it hurt?
When I got there, the cafe was one of those intimate little restaurants, which was kind of a surprise. I figured someone with Mr. Mann's money would go for the bigger and fancier places to eat. I just didn't realize how much he valued his privacy.
I was escorted to Mr. Mann's table, and we had a pleasant enough chat. He asked about me and my opinions on a lot of things, and actually listened to my answers. That was rare. I was impressed by what he had to say, especially since he made a point to look at my FACE while we were talking.
Finally, he leaned over and said, “Shelly, I'd like to make you an offer.”
Oh boy, I thought, here it comes. I knew this was too good to be true.
“I want to hire you as my personal assistant. But really, you'd...”
Uh huh, right, “personal assistant.” I knew the code. Thanks, but no thanks.
“...be my bodyguard.”
Huh? That wasn't how I'd seen that sentence ending. I grilled Mr. Mann as to why he didn't already have regular bodyguards or personal assistants or in fact anybody. He claimed that they “hindered his work.” I asked him what that meant. He clammed up.
So, what were the terms? Freedom to come and go as I pleased. Set my own hours. I didn't even have to follow him everywhere all the time. All he needed me to do was assist him with his research, and give him pointers in self-defense when I was available. Bodyguard duties would be at my discretion. I'd be on the payroll for a lot of money, and free to decide what my job description involved.
No hanky panky? “None.”
What about his personal life? “I don't have one.”
That was a surprise, too. I knew he'd been involved with that reporter Roxanne Prize for a couple of years, but that had ended badly. He'd sort of withdrawn socially since then, and some jerks in the media had even dubbed him “Captain Satellite.” They said it was because his mind was always in orbit, instead of on Earth. Creeps.
It was my turn to look into Paul Mann's eyes, and what I saw was a sincerity that would have been hard to fake. Plus, he sure came across as really damn innocent for someone who was one of the richest people in the world. I chose to trust him, until he gave me a reason to hit the road. Maybe it was all a put-on, but I wanted to find out for myself. Besides, if this was real, it would be the sweetest job ever.
“Mr. Mann, you've got a deal,” I said, and we shook hands.
TO BE CONTINUED
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Shelly's Story - Part 2
Shelly's Story - Part 2
Major City University was a bit of an eye-opener for me. I'd always prided myself on my discipline, even when my priorities hadn't matched the priorities everyone else had for me. But in college, I was solely responsible for myself. I hadn't even had that in the Air Force. It took some adjustment.
One day, I happened to spot a flier posted outside one of my classrooms. It was for a scheduled speaking appearance on campus by Paul Mann. Paul Mann? Wow! He was world famous as the self-made millionaire inventor. He wasn't that much older than me! I ripped that flier down as I headed to class, just to make sure I wouldn't forget the date.
I made it into the front row of the auditorium as the crowd filed in for Mr. Mann's talk. I say “crowd,” but it wasn't much of one. I didn't get it. This guy had hit the big time because of his brains, and done it before he even turned 30. Why wouldn't you want to hear what he had to say?
The speech was a good one, as far as we got into it. About halfway through, a man seated in the middle of the auditorium jumped up and pulled out a laser gun. “Three for victory!” he shouted as he threw up a three-fingered salute and fired at Mr. Mann. He ducked that shot, but the wildman bounded over people headed to the stage.
I guess training and instinct took over at that point. I don't exactly remember thinking that I had to cut off that guy and disarm him before he reached Paul Mann. I just did it. Next thing I knew, I had him on the floor, twisting his arm behind his back while I drove a knee into his neck. Security took it from there, but I had been the one who did the hard stuff.
Everything was hectic and confused after that, so I didn't notice until I made it back to my apartment that a business card had been shoved into my pocket. I pulled it out, and it was for Mann Creations - Paul Mann's company. On the back was a note written in pen: “Meet me @ Chez Café Wed @ 6 - Thx, P.”
P...as in Paul Mann? He wanted to meet me? To thank me? Over dinner?
TO BE CONTINUED
Major City University was a bit of an eye-opener for me. I'd always prided myself on my discipline, even when my priorities hadn't matched the priorities everyone else had for me. But in college, I was solely responsible for myself. I hadn't even had that in the Air Force. It took some adjustment.
One day, I happened to spot a flier posted outside one of my classrooms. It was for a scheduled speaking appearance on campus by Paul Mann. Paul Mann? Wow! He was world famous as the self-made millionaire inventor. He wasn't that much older than me! I ripped that flier down as I headed to class, just to make sure I wouldn't forget the date.
I made it into the front row of the auditorium as the crowd filed in for Mr. Mann's talk. I say “crowd,” but it wasn't much of one. I didn't get it. This guy had hit the big time because of his brains, and done it before he even turned 30. Why wouldn't you want to hear what he had to say?
The speech was a good one, as far as we got into it. About halfway through, a man seated in the middle of the auditorium jumped up and pulled out a laser gun. “Three for victory!” he shouted as he threw up a three-fingered salute and fired at Mr. Mann. He ducked that shot, but the wildman bounded over people headed to the stage.
I guess training and instinct took over at that point. I don't exactly remember thinking that I had to cut off that guy and disarm him before he reached Paul Mann. I just did it. Next thing I knew, I had him on the floor, twisting his arm behind his back while I drove a knee into his neck. Security took it from there, but I had been the one who did the hard stuff.
Everything was hectic and confused after that, so I didn't notice until I made it back to my apartment that a business card had been shoved into my pocket. I pulled it out, and it was for Mann Creations - Paul Mann's company. On the back was a note written in pen: “Meet me @ Chez Café Wed @ 6 - Thx, P.”
P...as in Paul Mann? He wanted to meet me? To thank me? Over dinner?
TO BE CONTINUED
Monday, February 11, 2019
Shelly's Story - Part 1
Shelly's Story - Part 1
I don't know why my hometown is called Boonland, but it's the perfect name for the place. If you want to see a classic example of the boondocks, it's Boonland, Texas.
Hi. My name is Shelly Ericson. This is my story. It's a little unusual.
I can't complain about my childhood. My parents made a nice life for me, and I was a good student in school. Notice I said “good,” not “great.” It's not that I'm not smart, but my mind was usually on other things. Beer, boys, and late night drives in my pick-up truck seemed more important than studying at the time. And even that stuff wasn't much better.
Yep, Boonland was a safe, peaceful place to grow up. It was also boring as hell.
My escape from the monotony was learning how to take care of myself. I started taking self-defense classes as a little girl, and never stopped developing those skills. My daddy taught me how to shoot a gun when I was 12. While the other girls were going gaga over the teen idol flavor of the week, I was practicing throwing knives at a tree in the backyard.
I signed up for the Air Force after graduation, because I thought it would be the quickest ticket out of Boonland. I'll admit it - I had visions of excitement and adventure in my head, too. Well, the Air Force was fine, but it didn't turn out to be what I wanted after all. I didn't re-enlist when the time came, and I suddenly found myself...back in Boonland.
I needed something, but I didn't know what it was. I had been taking classes while I was in the USAF, so college looked like a good option. I applied all over the country, not really caring where I ended up as long as it was somewhere else. The waiting felt like it dragged on forever, but then I got one letter of admittance in particular that changed everything.
One month later, I said good-bye to Mom and Dad and boarded a plane bound for Major City.
TO BE CONTINUED
I don't know why my hometown is called Boonland, but it's the perfect name for the place. If you want to see a classic example of the boondocks, it's Boonland, Texas.
Hi. My name is Shelly Ericson. This is my story. It's a little unusual.
I can't complain about my childhood. My parents made a nice life for me, and I was a good student in school. Notice I said “good,” not “great.” It's not that I'm not smart, but my mind was usually on other things. Beer, boys, and late night drives in my pick-up truck seemed more important than studying at the time. And even that stuff wasn't much better.
Yep, Boonland was a safe, peaceful place to grow up. It was also boring as hell.
My escape from the monotony was learning how to take care of myself. I started taking self-defense classes as a little girl, and never stopped developing those skills. My daddy taught me how to shoot a gun when I was 12. While the other girls were going gaga over the teen idol flavor of the week, I was practicing throwing knives at a tree in the backyard.
I signed up for the Air Force after graduation, because I thought it would be the quickest ticket out of Boonland. I'll admit it - I had visions of excitement and adventure in my head, too. Well, the Air Force was fine, but it didn't turn out to be what I wanted after all. I didn't re-enlist when the time came, and I suddenly found myself...back in Boonland.
I needed something, but I didn't know what it was. I had been taking classes while I was in the USAF, so college looked like a good option. I applied all over the country, not really caring where I ended up as long as it was somewhere else. The waiting felt like it dragged on forever, but then I got one letter of admittance in particular that changed everything.
One month later, I said good-bye to Mom and Dad and boarded a plane bound for Major City.
TO BE CONTINUED
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Stories
• "The City of Clocks" - Story
Cap and Shelly in the Unknown Zone! (illustrated)
• "Ninja Chief" - Story
Ninjas, hopping vampires, and...a toy robot? (illustrated)
• "Shelly's Story" - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5
The "origin" of Shelly Ericson!
• "The Stone Gods" - Story
The Invincible Alliance vs. rock giants! (illustrated)
• "WrestleMayhem" - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3
Blue Behemoth wrestles for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Last Updated: June 20, 2019.
Cap and Shelly in the Unknown Zone! (illustrated)
• "Ninja Chief" - Story
Ninjas, hopping vampires, and...a toy robot? (illustrated)
• "Shelly's Story" - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5
The "origin" of Shelly Ericson!
• "The Stone Gods" - Story
The Invincible Alliance vs. rock giants! (illustrated)
• "WrestleMayhem" - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3
Blue Behemoth wrestles for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Last Updated: June 20, 2019.
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