FTR - Quest for Answers

[Thomas (TK)]

Mar 18, 2022 16:12:06 GMT -5 Vanimal said:

I thought I'd give Mad Maxus an easy win to kick off their reign...

That sir is a definite way of titles changing hands... easy defense=new champion

[neilybob]

i agree

[Vanimal]

- chapter three -

"You might end up Like Blue Chip."
Those words keep playing in my head. Second show, second mention of Blue Chip. I know when it comes to promos nothing is sacred to wrestlers, but these men have no clue what happened to that young man. You would think some level of respect would come in to play from the 'boys in the back'.
"What should you expect from a scumbag from Brymstone." I tell myself.
Five days after Elevation I'm doing paper work in my office when there's a knock on my door.
"Come in." I say not looking up from my work. A young woman walks in and sits across from my desk. She doesn't say anything at first. She just sits looking sad as hell. Finally she looks up from her lap.
"I can tell the local GalactiCops are losing interest in my brothers case." she says.
"I feel like I'm bothering them with my inquires. I just want to find Chip." tears fill her eyes. "As I was leaving the station one of the detectives gave me your card. He said you were the best in the business with these sort of cases. I'd like to hire you, Mr. Quest."
I sit back in my chair, light my cigarette and take a pull.
"This is it." I think to myself. "This girl is depending on you to find her brother. You will not let her down, not like you did Cepheus. You will solve this case or die trying."
I stamp out my cigarette and tell myself it's the last one.
"Please, just call me Quest."

[Vanimal]

Elevation (3) 
Maffei II, The Launching Pad



T.A. vs. CEPHALOPODIS

Cephalopodis wins this Hoss fight with a Brodie Lee style Big Boot to T.A's face.


Electric Axe tries to attack Cephalopodis with his guitar after the match but it gets stuck to Cephalopodis's suction cups! Axe tries pulling it back but Cephalopodis flings Axe over the top rope and to the floor! Cephalopodis walks to the back trying to play some chords on his brand new guitar.



From the bowels of The Launching Pad.

Pardon paces back and forth while Moonlight looks on adoringly. Pardon is barely audible talking under his breath to himself. "Make your threats Crossbones, I'm here to fight!"



SWERVE vs. MAYHAM

Swerve squashes Mayham ending it with a TITAN DROP



ASTARTE & SONNY ROCKET vs. URANUS & MASS

Astarte and Rocket combine with a potent ROCKET LAUNCHER to get the win.
Mass watched it all from the apron but didn't put two and two together to make the pin save. As Astarte and Sonny celebrate Uranus orders Mass to attack. He knocks out Astarte with his nub then he and Uranus go after Rocket. "Launch the son of a bastard!" Uranus orders Mass. Mass picks Sonny up and choke slams him from inside the ring to the ring floor! Sonny needs help from ringside.

Sonny Rocket is injured 2 shows.



FTR TITLE MATCH

CAPT. CROSSBONES vs. VACANT

Vacant puts in a decent effort but can't keep up with the champ falling to BLACK SAILS.



After the match Pardon's music hits and the fans go nuts. Just like at TAKE OFF! he goes through the crowd with the cult swarming him. Capt. Crossbones has enough of these antics and is heading out to meet him! The brawl is on again! They fight all over the Launching Pad with the fans following them everywhere. Security can't break through what looks like a circle pit at a metal show. 


We cut away from the fight to go to Commissioner Rocket in the medical bay. Rocket says Uranus wants to be a tough guy and order attacks well it's his turn. Sonny says Uranus can be tough as he fights Pardon in his debut match next show!

[Vanimal]

- chapter four -

The next week I spend on surveillance. I try to stay as invisible as possible while tracking the comings and goings of wrestlers, agents, and crew. I start to nail down schedules - Sonny Rocket is always the first and last to arrive but that's no surprise with all the hats he wears. Next is usually Astarte or Swerve, depending on the day. They seem to have an unspoken rivalry, trying to out due the other. The last to arrive is usually Mayham, although Vacant comes and goes as he pleases. Nothing seems out of sorts but if these crimes are connected, and I believe they are, this is a seasoned professional I'm dealing with. They don't make mistakes and neither can I. On the day of Elevation I decide to snoop around the landing bay. I don't get too far. Three big security guards ask who I am and what I'm doing. At first I ignore their questions and continue looking for anything I can. They didn't appreciate this approach and surround me. I think over the odds in my head of taking down these three brutes all at once and decide it's not worth finding out.
"Just hoping to catch an autograph or something." I say.
"Buy a ticket like everyone else or beat it." I hear in return.
I head back to my cruiser to find a note on my windshield.
"You need to be on the inside. I can get you there. Talk soon."
- V.

[Vanimal]

Elevation (4)
Maffei II, The Launching Pad


KING TUX vs. ELECTRIC AXE
King Tux looks well on his way to victory when T.A. enters the ring and hits Tux with Axe's speaker pads. Cephalopodis (dressed like Born in the USA era Springsteen) was distracted up until this point trying to play the guitar. Once he hears the bell ring he tries to snap to and attempts to climb in the ring to help but eats a big boot and falls to the floor. Axe tries to get his guitar back but can't get it off of the much bigger Cephalopodis. He gives up and instead turns his attention to the prized egg of King Tux, grabs it and runs off!

Uranus is walking in circles in his locker room worried about the match ahead. Mass stands behind him smiling at nothing in particular. "I need you to be ready tonight!" Uranus says. "If things look bad for me, take him out, I'm fine with a disqualification!"
Mass continues smiling, nods and says "Mass!"

MOONLIGHT vs. CHAMELEON
Chameleon attacks Moonlight before the bell and starts the match off strong. One slip up (a telegraphed back body drop) ends in a Pedigree and MONGOLIAN HORDE. Another win for Moonlight.

SWERVE vs. ASTARTE
4 STARS!
Astarte makes a huge comeback and wins a great match with GREATNESS DAWNS. Sonny Rocket (sporting a neck brace) looked super impressed by Swerve throughout the match.

PARDON vs. URANUS
Pardon destroys Uranus punishing him for around four to five minutes. Several times he picks him up from being pinned at the 2 count saying "nah not yet." A CENTAURUS CRUCIFIX would end the fight.
After the match instead of Pardon's music we hear Capt. Crossbones! Pardon turns towards the entrance ramp ready to fight when Crossbones swings in from the rafters! Pardon turns around to get hit by the broadside of Crossbones' sword. Crossbones grabs Pardon by the hair and drags him to his knees The Brymstone Cult want to riot when they see what's going on but don't move a muscle as Crossbones puts his sword to their leader's throat. "Make a move! I beg ya!" The Cult stay motionless. Still holing Pardon by the hair, Crossbones uses the pommel to repeatedly bash Pardon in the head busting him open. Moonlight runs down but again Crossbones threatens to slice him open. The Cult are helpless to do anything! Captain gets in a few more shots for good measure before grabbing the rope and disappearing back into the rafters leaving Pardon unconscious in a pool of blood.

[Vanimal]

- chapter five -

My whodunnit cork board has seen some action lately. After the sickening actions from champion Capt. Crossbones, he's moved to the middle of the board. After my run-in before last Elevation I feel like they beefed up their security. I pull my cruiser into my parking garage after another day of dead ends. Walking through the lot I hear a voice. "I told you, you need to be on the inside and I can get you there." I stop walking and look for the direction of the voice but see nothing. "Over here" the voice says.
I turn to see a cigar light up in the corner of the garage. Tentatively I walk over.
"You can stop right there." the mystery man says.
"A parking garage? A little cliché don't you think?"

"What can I say, I'm old school." says the mystery man. "Here's the number of a friend that's a talent scout for FTR. A little known Titan by the name of Pulsar. I told him about you. He wants answers just like I do. He'll get you in for a look. From there you're on your own. I'll be in contact."

Three days later I have my tryout. I kill it. For a moment I forget that I'm here to find out what happened to Blue Chip and actually enjoy myself. I'm signed to a limited deal to begin training at the FTR center. As I return home my comm-device is blinking with a new message. I play it as I enter the elevator. It's my mystery man.

-Congratulations, knew you had it in you. I'm working on getting you a clearance from a Galacticop buddy of mine. It's almost time to make your intentions known.-

[Vanimal]

Elevation (5) 
Maffei II, The Launching Pad

Commissioner Rocket stands in the ring as "FTR! FTR!" chants ring out.

Rocket - I'm here to announce something BIG! Our next show will be the first special of the Rocket Era appropriately named On Sight! The main event will be Capt. Crossbones vs. Pardon for the FTR championship! Tonight we will have a contract signing in this ring because nothing ever goes wrong at a contract signing! Also in the first "Rocket Strapped Match" we will see Swerve, Mass, Astarte and Vacant battle in a number one contender match! Mayham interrupts ranting and raving that he should be included.

Mayham - I made it to the Final Four at TAKE OFF! This is an outrage!

Sonny Rocket actually agrees! He tells Mayham to win and he's in. Mayham asks who his opponent is. Rocket says "me!" spikes Mayham with the mic and the match is on!

SONNY ROCKET vs. MAYHAM
Rocket shows no signs of lasting effects from his injury soundly defeating Mayham with a ROCKET LAUNCHER.

SWERVE vs. MASS
The cat and mouse game Swerve plays with Mass works and he gets the win with a TITAN DROP.

PEER MEDIATION
Sonny Rocket invites the Animen and his team to join him in the ring.
The tag champs come out first, King Tux fighting mad, Cephalopodis is still in his rock star get up and guitar. Mad Maxus comes out next.
Rocket asks for a trade at the same time - the guitar for the egg. Axe and Tux are on board but Cephalopodis says no way!
Tux tries to grab for the egg but T.A. blocks him. Rocket says he has an idea.

Rocket - My dad would tell me stories that his father told him from wrestling back in the 20th century. In our home of Georgia it was quite popular to settle disputes by putting things on poles. The first to retrieve the item would win! We'll have two poles - the egg on one, guitar on the other. First to grab their respective item wins!
Both teams agree. Rocket quietly adds that the match will also be for the FTR Tag titles.

URANUS vs. CHAMELEON
In the grossest moment in the history of FTR Uranus end up puking on his cape! Chameleon hits four gutbusters in a row and Uranus loses his lunch. He nearly makes a comeback win when Sonny Rocket's music plays. He looks around for his enemy but no one comes out. Chameleon takes advantage with an Aniwoman Ax Handle and wins. After the match an irate Uranus challenges Sonny Rocket to a match at On Sight!

ASTARTE vs. VACANT
GREATNESS DAWNS gets the win for Astarte. The Rocket Man now has singles wins against every opponent he will face in the Rocket Strapped Match.

CONTRACT SIGNING
Commissioner Rocket is out again for the third time tonight with a half dozen storm troopers here to keep peace. Rocket starts by apologizing for the music malfunction in the previous match but he gladly accepts Uranus's challenge. FTR champion Captain Crossbones is out first . Pardon's music hits and the Cult is ready but no Pardon. They start his music two more times but still nothing. Crossbones laughs, swaggers over to the table and signs the contract. He says Pardon must have smartened up and went back to Centaurus. Moonlight comes out and Crossbones jokes about Pardon sending his woman to fight for him. Moonlight grins. "We're just fighting fire with fire." Before anyone can react she lights a fireball and throws it in Crossbones face! The Stormtroopers grab her except for one who starts throwing them off her and out of the ring. The Trooper turns a hits Capt. Crossbones with the stun gun he's holding. He takes off his mask to reveal himself. Pardon is here! Pardon signs the contract and throws it to Rocket who high-tailed it out of the ring. Pardon looks to Moonlight. "Light it up!!!" Moonlight wastes no time throwing another fireball on the table setting it ablaze. Pardon picks up Crossbones and hits a CENTAURUS CRUCIFIX threw the fiery table!

[Vanimal]

- chapter six -

Burning the candle at both ends, that's how the week leading up to On Sight goes. I'm poring over the hours of security footage  that's afforded to me from the Launching Pad while looking into any camera angle in the surrounding areas. Any down time is spent training at the FTR Performance Center. I'm having better luck with the latter, not the former.
"Keep at it." I tell myself pouring another drink. "Something has got to be on here somewhere."
No luck.
The following day I'm working with a new signee when Pulsar joins us.
"Take five, bud."
Pulsar waits for him to walk off before we lock up with a collar and elbow.
"One of the Rocket Cams on the landing bay being used on the night Blue Chip disappeared was damaged." Pulsar whispers. "Our mutual friend has it, he says you can repair it."
"Who the hell is he?" I ask a little louder than I mean to.
"You'll learn soon enough, he's just about ready." Pulsar says. "In the mean time, fix the damaged Rocket Cam."
When I get home the package is waiting on my doorstep. It takes me twenty-one hours but I'm able to fix it. I'm near delirious but I immediately watch the video and I can't believe what I see.
"I'll be damned." I say.
"There it is."

[Vanimal]

Red Barn at Hamal, Hamal, Aries 6,981

STRAP THE ROCKET!

SWERVE vs. ASTARTE vs. MASS vs. VACANT

Match Highlights -

Swerve hits High Knees on the other three wrestlers consecutively, then does it again when the fans demand "one more time!" Swerve was really feeling the crowd having his back.

Vacant spring-boarding off the top rope to put Mass in the Throat Trap.

Mass nearly gets the win on Astarte after a Head drop suplex but Astarte gets his foot on the ropes.

Swerve superplexes Vacant through a table with Mass on in it. Astarte takes advantage of the train-wreck posting Swerve and throwing Vacant in the ring for GREATNESS DAWNS getting the win.



ASTARTE IS NUMBER ONE CONTENDER



  Sonny Rocket is shown getting hyped for his match. In the background newcomer Quest is spotted backstage investigating and taking notes.



SONNY ROCKET vs. URANUS

Rocket dominates the entire match hitting all his moves several times. He punishes Uranus with knife edge chops that turn his chest purple while a chair shot outside the ring turned his face red. Sonny hits ROCKET LAUNCHER and it should be over when the Kroll Scientists run amok around ringside. The ref gets distracted as does Rocket who looks to see what's going on. Out of no where a Mini-Mass hops in the ring! Sonny looks dumb-founded when Mini-Mass launches himself at Rocket with a head spear low blow! Rocket crumbles! Uranus capitalizes first with SON OF JANUS then a sloppy splash (DJ-11) and gets the shocking win.



  Backstage Cephalopodis is still noodling on the guitar when an FTR official comes to take it for the next match. Quest is seen in the back chatting with ring crew and production, still taking notes.



HITMAN MATCH FOR THE FTR TAG TEAM TITLES

KING TUX & CEPHALOPODIS vs. MAD MAXUS

In a last minute effort to help his team, Rocket modified the pole match to be a Hitman match. This may have done more harm then good because Cephalopodis used the pole to his advantage more than anyone. Mad Maxus also suffer from not having their manager out there with them leading to Cephalopodis suctioning his way up the pole, grabbing the egg and guitar, and winning the match!



The tag champions celebrate on the ramp, King Tux holding his egg high as Cephalopodis shreds on guitar. He gets too into the jam though, ripping off the guitar and smashing it against the ground! When Cephalopodis realizes what he did he's in shock!



  Mayham storms to the ring huffing and puffing. "I demand a match on this show! How do I go from main eventing Take Off! to being left off? I'm not going anywhere!" Mayham gets a folding chair and sits in the ring. Faller's music hits and fans are on their feet! Faller comes with his log and drops it at Mayham's feet. Mayham tries to pick it up but is unsuccessful. He sits backdown and tells Faller to leave. Faller picks up the wood and tosses it to Mayham who falls off his chair crushed under the log! Faller lifts it over his head, twirls it, and throws the log to the outside floor. Embarrassed, Mayham grabs his chair and smashes Faller in the back. "Ring the bell!" Mayham yells.



FALLER vs. MAYHAM

Six Moves! Faller wins it with DOWN TO SIZE.



  Uranus, still bloody and hand prints on his chest bursts into the backstage interview area.

"Let me introduce you to the newest member of FTR! Ladies and gents, this is CRUST! Together with Mass they are the Eugenics Project and they are your next FTR Tag Champs!" Uranus, Mass and Crust walk off while Quest silently observes from the corner.



FTR CHAMPIONSHIP

CAPT. CROSSBONES vs. PARDON

4 STARS!

Pardon doesn't wait! The match starts in the aisle with fists flying everywhere. They brawl around the ring nearly spent before the bell rings. A fantastic hardcore fight that veers dangerously close to being thrown out by the ref several times. Pardon gets his knees up after Crossbones attempts a moonsault. Surging with adrenaline, Pardon hits CENTAURUS CRUCIFIX and gets the win (snake eyes). NEW FTR CHAMPION



(FT5) Moonlight runs down to celebrate but Pardon stops her and tells her to grab two chairs. They alternate smashing Crossbones in the back with the chairs until he's motionless. Pardon opens a chair over top Crossbones, stands on it and raises his title as the Cult goes wild. Capt. Crossbones starts to stir in the ring and asks for a mic. Spitting up blood he starts. "Play times over. No more stupid pirate voice. No more taking it easy on the lesser beings. That includes you, Moonlight. You want to run with the big dogs? Let's run! Next Elevation!"



  The ringside announcers are wrapping things up when Quest gets in the ring, mic in hand. "I'll make this brief because I know my time is short, they'll cut me off soon. My name is Quest, new signee to FTR. Unfortunately , that is my side job. My first is a private investigator. I've been hired to investigate the disappearance of Blue Chip, or should I say, the murder of Chip Tomahawk! That's right, I said murder, and I believe the culprit is here wrestling in FTR!"