Jobbers in Paradise.

[Mike M]

Really enjoying this alternate take on history. Good stuff!

[Swarm]

Massif points at the squat rack.

Cosmos gives him the finger and heads over.

HA! We've all been there before! Five stars, bro.

 

[Shane Sullivan]

Chapter 7: Masks are for Sissies.

The old man hip tosses Cosmos, as he lands he kicks the young man in the back of the head. He turns as Southwest runs in for a Spear. The old man catches Southwest by the head and neck and lifts up, the momentum from the charging Southwest carries both men across the ring, until the old man kicks back his feet catching the mat, bringing both men to a halt. One in a brutal guillotine choke, the other delivering it. Southwest starts to sag to the ground; the old man places him down in time to receive a drop kick from Cosmos, which sends him through the ropes and out of the ring. A bell sounds ending the sixth thirty minute round. The old man brushes himself off and whistles to Cosmos to meet him on the mats by the lockers. Southwest groggy sits up and looks at the smiling face of the old man looking over the apron of the ring.

"Ain't got all day kid, when naptime is over, head over to your girlfriend for a second, I wanna talk with you."

Southwest slaps the mat in frustration and rolls out of the ring.

The old man walks over to Cosmos who has an ice pack on his face. Southwest jogs over and looks at the two men sheepishly.

"Sorry, thought I had you."

"Strength is not speed Southwest, you come in slow there you had more opportunity to engage and overpower. Cosmos there, he's the quicker of you two; he is the cobra you're the hammer. But hey, don't get down on yourself; I have been doing this for a long time. You guys are just getting started after a long layover. Give it some time."

"Time is up."

All three look over at Solaris who has magically appeared in the room.

"What do you mean Solaris?" The old man says.

"Southwest will accompany me to Cetus; he must take the place of Cheetoh Montalban to gain entrance into the Impossible Tournament."

"I thought you said I was already in it!" Southwest hisses.

"Semantics, you will be after tonight."

"Sounds like a crock of crap to me."

Cosmos looks at Solaris hard.

"Why do you need both of us in the tournament? I can win it all."

"Because he will see you coming, if he stops you, Southwest gets on through because he will be under a mask."

Southwest shakes his head no.

"Masks are for sissies, I'm no sissy."

"Looked like one two minutes ago." Cosmos smirks.

"That's it! You're done!"

Southwest rushes at Cosmos, the old man steps in between the two and pushes Southwest back.

"Knock it off! Save it for the ring!"

"Thank you Torin." Solaris nods at the old man.

There is silence for a moment as Cosmos and Southwest stare at each other ready to fight. Solaris finally breaks the silence.

"Right. With that, Southwest please find Magnus and we will be off.

We leave the four men in the gym and head to Venus at the Lakshmi Planum arena.

CPC stands at a lectern; Ms. Liberty is at his side wearing a red, white and blue formal dress. A huge screen stands behind them. A cameraman points at CPC.

"In three, two......."

A voice off stage begins.

"Ladies and Gentleman, all a-sexual begins in the universe we bring you the greatest show in the galaxy. CPC wrestling!! ......with your host, CPC and the lovely Ms. Liberty!"

Applause hits and CPC waves at the camera.

The applause wains and CPC begins to speak.

“Hello everyone, CPC thanks you for tuning in. Tonight CPC has put together by random chance the pairings for the Impossible Tournament. But before CPC will let you see what is store for all the great fans, CPC has a special treat. Tomorrow at Madison Cube Garden in New New York, eight men will fight to gain entrance into the Impossible tournament. CPC would like to announce the eight men who will do battle. In our first bout of the evening we will have two members of the planet Andromeda, after all the heartache and pain that that world has endured, CPC was able to rescue these two fighters. They will do battle against each other. CPC gives you Antak the First versus Ram. “

Pictures of the two wrestlers pop up on the screen, with records and stats.

“In the next bout we have Cheetoh Montalban a local Cetus favorite looking to break into the big time, he will face off against Montrol the Magnificent. We all know the storied history of Montrol and how he help usurer in peace with the people of Earth and CTA-102. Tonight he comes out of retirement to give one last go to become CPC Champion.”
Again, pictures of the two men show up with stats and records. Cheetoh’s is 0-0 as he has never had a match in CPC or the old GWF.

“The third bout of the evening will pit the newcomer the enigma known as Soulwatcher, we have all seen him from time to time in the ring. Now he makes a move to become champion. He will face off against CPC’s own Death Knight. Looking to redeem himself the Death Knight has sworn to defeat Soulwatcher and move into the impossible tournament.”

Both pictures pop up.

“Our last fight of the night will be Cosmos, a journeyman that almost made it in the old GWF but due to an injury was forced to retire, but working hard the young man after seven years wants to give it one more try. He will face Ursa Major. That’s right the three time interplanetary champion and the only man to take CPC to the thirty minute mark in one of the greatest matches in CPC history, will come back after making one of the highest grossing action flicks in years, Gross Negligence, and take on Cosmos.”

The last set of pictures pop up, Cosmos has him looking much younger and his record is 2-1.

Ursa Major’s is 345-17.

The crowd laughs at the obvious mismatch of the last match and pretty much know the fix is in for this match.

“Only four of these men can move forward. They will win a slot in the impossible tournament as 16 seeds. It is a long shot for these four men, but CPC did it seven years ago when CPC fought through six matches to win the whole thing. So we all know this is possible in the impossible tournament.”

CPC raises his hands over his head and yells.

“Tomorrow. Let the games. Begin!!!"

The crowd roars with approval.

We leave the press conference and head to Cetus.

In the locker room, Southwest and Solaris sit in front of Cheetoh Montelban Sr.

“So you see, the fate of the universe is at stake, I ask you to please, let Southwest pose as you in the tournament.”

Cheetoh looks down at his feet.

“Senor, I have been waiting my whole life to be able to join the CPC. Once they see what I can do, they will sign me and I will be able to take care of my family. I have to say no.”

“If you do this, once we have gained control of CPC and put an end to his reign, we will guarantee you a spot at the table. We will be able to give you the spot you have always wanted.” Solaris says very seriously.

“…I am sorry, sen…”

Southwest punches Cheetoh in the face. It sounds like a shotgun going off. Cheetoh slumps to the floor and is out like a light. Southwest pulls the strings on the unconscious man’s mask and pulls it off. Solaris is dumbfounded.

“What?”

Solaris just stares at Southwest.

“He wasn’t going to do it. Now we have the mask and tomorrow I will fight as this guy. A sissy, I told you.”

“Did you have to hit him so hard?”

“What that? That was 45%, Probably would have killed him if I hit him any harder.”

“You think?”

Solaris shakes his head and touches Cheetoh’s face. The wound from the punch heals but he stays unconscious.

“I could have done that without you hitting him.” Solaris says looking at Southwest.

“Why do you want take all the fun out of everything? Plus this way was faster, you were killing me with all the sappy trying to be nice talk.”

Solaris shakes his head and sighs.

“Ok. So be it. We need to be off. Grab his trunks.”

“Not a chance.”

Both men look at each other.

“Maggie!”


End of Chapter 7

[WTIC]

Always a great read! And it sure ain't predictable like most movies I've seen!

Keep that creative mind going, we are all giddy with anticipation!

[TTX]

Keep it going for sure. So much fun.

[Shane Sullivan]

Chapter 8:Pie and a Promo.

CPC sits at his huge desk. He is looking at his huge tournament board. Twisting his mustache he smirks at the board.

"Soon this tournament will be starting and once Tyranny becomes my new champion. I can stroll right into the Galactic High Council and really start running things."

"What did you say dear?" Ms. Liberty in a sparkling one piece with American flags draping off her back walks into the room.

"I said you look lovely."

"Smooth talker." Ms. Liberty sashes to up to CPC and gives him a kiss on the cheek. She looks over her shoulder at the board and then looks back.

"You look like you have something on your mind."

"I was just wondering about that Blast guy you showed me last week. I would really like to see him fight in this tournament. I feel like I know him."

CPC looks down at the top of her head as he embraces her. His teeth are clenched and his eye bore into her skull with malice.

"Beautiful why don't you let me decide the wrestling you decide what I should wear. Deal?"

For the first time since he manipulated time to gain Ms. Liberty's affection he saw her face change from beautiful to furious.

"What?" She said it so low, he wasn't sure he heard her.

"uh..love, why don't you pick out an outfit for me tonight?"

"So. What I think I hear you saying! is! That I can't wrestle! That maybe I should go barefoot and get you a ham sandwich! Is that what I hear you saying Carson?!"

Carson takes a step back and puts up his hands.

"Love..."

"Do NOT! Call me love. You jackass! Pick out your own damn clothes. You wear the same thing every time anyway!"

She walks over and pushes down the tournament board. It's grav-lifters kick in and save it from hitting the ground.

"Since you don't think I know anything about wrestling you jerk."

She swipes Karah's name off the board and puts in Adam Blast.

"Adam will be facing Gila in the first round and I bet you anything he will win against that slimy lizard. You just name it!"

CPC starts to twirl his mustache.

"Anything huh?"

"Anything."

"I agree. If Gila wins, you will give me a child."

Without missing a beat she points at him.

"And when Adam wins, you let me wrestle. You give me a womens division."

CPC laughs at this.

"Women can't wrest..."

Ms. Liberty comes flying at CPC and hits a cross body, she quickly takes his back as he tries to get up, putting on one hell of a sleeper hold. CPC thinks about picking her up and smashing her to the floor, but instead taps her arm. She lets go, stepping back in a fighting stance.

"You've been taking lessons. Who?"

"You know who."

"Ah. Cassandra. You know she's a bad influence on you dear."

"She is not."

"Fine. It's a deal. I will put your wrestler in the tournament."

"Fine."

She starts to walk way and Carson swoops in behind her and picks her up.

"Not so fast missy, we have some training of our own to do."

"I'm still mad at you."

"Good it will make it interesting yes?"

We leave the couple to do what couples do after they fight and a wrestling match breaks out. We head to Cetus, where Cosmos, Southwest and Maggie wait in a green room of the CPC studios.

"You ever do a promo before?" Cosmos looks at Southwest.

"Once. My dad wanted to introduce me and wanted me to say a few words to the fans."

"How did it turn out?"

"Like crap. I was nervous and stuttered. Said my opponents name wrong. Basic cluster."

Cosmos laughs at this, then goes quiet.

"Don't worry, you do your talking in the ring. You just be brooding and stuff. People will love it."

"What are you going to do?"

"Hell I don't know, I have this mask, I think I'm supposed to be Mexican. I might let Maggie do my talking."

"Yeah, could do worse."

"No not really. But I works with what I got."

Both men stare in silence at the wall in front of them.

The door opens and a small man in glasses and a bowl haircut comes out.

"Cosmos, you are with me."

Cosmos stands up and looks at Southwest, he shrugs and follows the man back behind the door. We follow them down a few corridors to a sound studio with a green screen wall. A cameraman is eating a sandwich and looking bored.
Bowl Haircut points to a mark on the floor. Cosmos heads over and stand on it looking at the camera.

"Ok kid, your match up tonight is against Ursa Major. Just cut a promo, be yourself, mention the match tonight at the Ceres Hall and mention the impossible tournament in there as well. You ready kid?"

Cosmos looks wide eyed and nervous.

"I guess."

"Ok, on the three count you begin. Say whatever, just don't give me the Gettysburg address ok? Keep it short?

"The what?"

"Just keep it short kid."

The Cameraman holds up three fingers and lowers them slowly one at a time. At the last finger, Cosmos's eyes go wide and he kind of goes forward a bit off the mark.

"Oh..um..My name is Cosmos. Er, well I face, Urster Major tonight in the Impossible tournament on Ceres Hall. I wanna win, so come out and see me fight. Yeah."

Cosmos stares at the camera a red light shuts off. Bowl Haircut slaps his forehead in annoyance.

"Holy Crap kid. That sucked. Seriously, I have done a million of these. You are the worst I have ever seen. Have you even taken a promo class? Urster? His name is Ursa! You buffoon. Ok. let's do this one more time. Gawd, why did I have to pull this crappy duty?"

Bowl haircut sits down in disgust and waves his hand at the cameraman to start rolling.

Cosmos is staring daggers of death at bowl haircut.

"Hey you doofy bastard, how would you like to get that stupid ass haircut ripped off your stupid fat head? You should thank your mom everyday of your miserable, worthless life that she married a spindly, weak ass man and bore you. Because jack off, if you were 1/10th a man right now, I would bash your stupid face in. Urster, Ursa it doesn't matter who the hell I'm fighting in this stupid ass tournament. I'm going to break off his legs and hand you one as a souvenir then all of Cetus we see what a real man looks like! Now you get the hell out of my face before I tear it off and shove it that fat cameraman's ass!

Cosmos steps forward and bowl haircut runs away. Cosmos walks over to the door he came in and slams it open and then slams it closed as he leaves.

"Tell me you got that?" Bowl Haircut says to the cameraman as he slinks back into the room.

"Yeah I got it."

"That Frakuzin kid is going to be a star."

End Chapter 8

[throwingtoasters]

So much fun. I'm so digging this.I'm eager for the tourney to begin, but I could watch this go on forever!

[Shane Sullivan]

Mar 6, 2018 22:11:35 GMT -5 throwingtoasters said:

So much fun. I'm so digging this.I'm eager for the tourney to begin, but I could watch this go on forever!

Thanks buddy. I know where I want to go, but certain things just keep popping in to my head, so away we go. Next chapter will begin the fight-in matches, I think. LOL.

[TTX]

So weird, so crazy and so fun all at the same time.

[WTIC]

Cosmos stumbling through an interview? You don't see that everyday, LOL!

Maybe he will make something of himself someday, no?