Post by TheNewBreed on Feb 10, 2024 23:51:06 GMT -5
“Maybe it isn't a bad idea to take some time off and recover? I mean... you've had a brutal year so far, and it looks like things aren't going to slow down any time soon.” Darina says as she swirls through the oak double doors and into the conference room adjacent to John Cable's office in the New Breed Foundation HQ in Jacksonville, Florida.
“Who the fuck is this and what did she do with Darina?” chuckles SSP with a sly smirk as he follows her in and flops into a rolling chair near the doorway, the chains on his leather biker boots jangling beneath the denims of his jeans.
“You're hilarious. Seriously... maybe he should take a couple of weeks off and relax... recuperate some. Geez. The man's fought a few wars over the course of the last month or so and maybe he needs a break.” Darina quips back at Sebastian as she makes her way to the coffee pot on the far side of the room and starts setting up a pot to brew.
“I do NOT need a break. End of discussion.” John growls as he makes his way through the doorway and heads for his chair at the head of the table with his suitcase in hand as he pulls his navy blue tie free of the starched white collared shirt beneath his gray blazer.
“Some time to recover from some of your minor injuries would be highly advised at this juncture, John Cable.” the chipper voice of R2-IDEA buzzes from his watch.
“Not an option. We're not having this conversation.” John growls, his gravely voice barely audible as his eyes dart to the watch on his wrist.
“How are the repairs and upgrades coming along in Nevada?” John asks R2 curtly, changing the tone of the conversation immediately from him taking a break to business as usual, just the way he liked it.
“The repairs are on schedule. The drones have proven to be very useful after I figured out their operating systems and reconfigured the program to be more suitable for our needs. They have actually given me a great insight into the technology of the other John, and I have found several similar functions within the Shane-O-Verse technology.” R2 whirs away when asked about the repairs.
“Is it made by the same people? Or is it just cobbled together by someone else?” John asks as the coffee pots steams and bubbles to life on the other side of the room.
“The particular parts we have recovered from the Shane-O-Verse technologies have had a traceable molecular signature that is unique to those dimensions. These drones have parts made identically to the original technology, but with different molecular signatures indicating that they are from different dimensions all together. It is safe to assume that this new John has found technological equipment from the Shane-O-Verse and has reverse engineered it to figure out its function and has now added it to his own collection of technology.” R2 explains from the watch.
“So, what's the difference between the different techs? He's clearly using some of the Shane-O-Verse weaponry, but he's added a few new toys to the arsenal and he has some very different portal tech than we've seen before, and those drones are something else all together. Why doesn't he just pick one tech and go with it?” Sebastian asks, his leg draped over the arm of the rolling chair.
“Because it isn't all modular. It would be like trying to outfit an old Hummer with gear built for a Jeep frame. From the specs I've looked at, and the field tests we've done with it, the Shane-O-Verse weapons systems were good, but this new stuff he's using has a far more condensed power system. It outperforms the Shane-O-Verse tech every time in output and destructive force, and because of the better system, a foot soldier could carry more power cells with increase firepower and reduced weight and larger artillery would be logistically even easier to field. It's like he walked through some inter-dimensional tech market place and chose the best tools for the job with no regard for a similar platform.” Darina explains to SSP as she pours a Styrofoam cup full of steaming coffee before making her way over to the table and turning one of the rolling chair backwards taking a seat, sipping her dark brew.
“The only people who do that are either grasping at the best tech they can get their hands on and making due with what they can find, or they have everything at their fingertips and get to be picky abot what they use. This guy doesn't seem like he's just grasping at scraps here. This other John's been precise and calculated in his actions so far, and he's been ahead of you every step of the way. Honestly, from the sounds of it, if it weren't for R2... he would've already had his revenge on you, and we wouldn't be sitting here with you right now.” Sebastian says pointedly, expressing the elephant in the room as no other could.
“I would seem R2 has saved me from that fate a few times now... and hopefully we can keep that trend rolling right along.” John says flatly, the whole room turning to stare at him, realizing in that moment that that fate could still be in the cards for him if the other John has anything to say about it.
“We have made some incredible discoveries in the last few weeks with the addition of the new technologies to my archives. I am sure that John Cable's safety is assured for the time being, and I am doing everything I can to ensure that in perpetuity. Rest assured, my only mission is ensure that John Cable will fulfill the prophesy and guarantee the success of humanity into the appropriate future.” R2 buzzes from the watch at John's wrist.
“Yeah... I have a lot of faith in that, truly.” Darina chimes in with a roll of her eyes.
“It's done a great job so far in keeping John alive. Sure... maybe some other folks haven't been so lucky, but honestly, Rina... better them than John.” Sebastian says with a sideways look across the room at Darina, his smirk gone now, replaced with a serious, contemplative gaze.
“Look... I get that... I do, OK?” Darina defends herself, conscious of the fact that R2 is always there, and still unable to shake the feeling of fear about the droid and what he has done in the last few months.
“We know, Darina. It's fine. It's been pretty stressful the last few months, and with the new sensors detecting the portal tech online, at least we know when he's coming to pay a visit. Now... if we could figure out how to get to him without having to wait on him to come to us we could take this fight right to him and end this thing once and for all. Until then though... we're just sitting around waiting on him to show up wherever and whenever he wants to.” John explains softly, sighing and rubbing his forehead with his fingertips as he slumps deeper into his leather chair.
“Have we tried to bait him out?” Sebastian asks as Darina and John turn to look at him.
“How would you suggest we bait him into our dimension?” John asks, a blank stare plastered on his mangled face.
“Well... I mean... he wants to kill you... you're the best bait we got. If you stay hidden away behind R2 the whole time, he isn't gonna come out to play. He knows R2 is his Kryptonite at this point... so we need to parade you out and about without R2 to lure him out of hiding and into the light. Once we get him to jump in, we grab the sunofabitch and take his shit. R2 should be able to reverse the tech and track the dimensional coordinates and figure out how to get there, right, Buddy?” Sebastian says plainly, as if it were obvious all along as Darina and John both slowly look at the watch in anticipation of an answer from the droid.
“Yes, Sebastian St. Paul. That would be a plan worth exploring. It does place John Cable into a position of variable dangers, but those could be mitigated with proper plans and contingencies. I will begin working on calculations to ascertain the proper time and place of such a mission. I will forward information as I compile the appropriate data” R2 responds curtly.
“Well, OK. I guess my name is Bait then.” John says with a roll of his eyes and less then enthused grin spreading across his face.
“For some of us... it always was.” SSP chuckles to himself as Darina makes her way towards the pot of coffee for a refill and the scene fades to black.
* * * * *
Well, Well... Pun... I mean... it's Ragnarok, now, I guess. I wouldn't want to get Sonya's panties in a wad, would I? It's not like she doesn't wish upon a shooting star to have any reason at all to get her lawyers involved, right?
But enough about the vile bitch... and down to the business at hand.
Ragnarok! You finally found your way into the ring with me! We've both been in this company since the relaunch, and yet... we've never managed to grace a ring together.
It's about time that's changed... and come Monday Night... on SMASH... we light up the Main Event just like a clash of this caliber merits.
It's been a bumpy road for us both since Relaunch, and I'm sure you're going to love rubbing in my face you've had a taste of WWGF Gold before I have... and you're not wrong. You managed to wrangle the WGWF TV Title away from that vile bitch early on in her run, which was impressive in it's own right. You deserve the accolades for the feat, for sure... but you only had it for a sip of tea before she managed to snake it back from you... and I'm pretty sure we all know how that worked out for you both in the long run.
You ended up losing everything including your name to her and she ended up the Steven Hawkins poster child for pornstack pin attempts.
Geez. That was a clusterfuck, wasn't it?
Good thing you came to your senses about her and made some serious distance between the two of you before that debacle. You know she would have dragged you right into the middle of that and made you take the blame for her failures just like every other time she made you her scapegoat before you got free of her.
Since then, you seem to be making some serious strides in shaping your career for the future.
You and Damage had a good run with a real future there. He's been making his own waves around here, pushing for the X Division Title and spearheading this Devlin's Army rush against the Unfortunate Ones on SMASH with Knight and Page, and I could see you guys really making a push for the WGWF Tag Team Titles if you decided that was something you wanted to do.
You had a little break there for a bit, and when you came back... it was like you had a reinvigorated zest for life you'd been missing before. It was like... getting free of Benson's poisonous grasp set you free in more ways than one, and I'm glad you've found some way of finding joy in a life where for men like us... joy is fleeting at best... if you ever find it at all.
It's good to see a man with so much potential give himself a chance again... and not just lay down and lose his life to the despair and misery after a lifetime of agony and hardship. I too know of the struggle of a life less than perfect, as you well know... and we share the perseverance of a survivor in this world of pain.
I hope that we also share the desire for the challenge of honorable combat... and that this match will be like the Legends of yesteryear. I yearn to test my might against the best of he best, and over this last year and half, I have done just that. Finally... we get to test our mettle against each other inside the squared circle... and I hope you're up to the challenge.
I am not a man who knows fear... nor do I posses an ounce of quit.
I bring my best week in and week out... and this week... it's your turn, Pun.
Come prepared for war at SMASH... because I'm ready for Ragnarok!
* * * * *
John's office door opens slowly as Cable shuffles through some papers on his desk, seemingly oblivious to his unannounced company. Quietly, Sebastian sneaks into the room and slinks along the nearest wall towards John's desk. John sifts through a few papers, and reorganized a few into different stacks on his desk as Sebastian makes his way closer and closer towards the desk.
“What do you want?” John asks without even looking up from his papers.
Sebastian freezes, looking around innocently, feigning shock.
“Yes... you. What do you want? I don't really have time for games right now, Seabass.” John scolds him as he looks up from his papers finally, staring right at SSP.
“I ain't up to games or shenanigans, I'll have you know.” Sebastian states indignantly, strolling casually towards a chair near the desk now that he's been caught.
“Then what what ARE you up to, Sebastian?” John asks, setting the stacks of papers down on his desk in front of him.
“Well... to be honest, John... I wanted to stop by and talk to you about something.” Sebastian says slyly, hinting at something subtle but not saying it outright as he pulls the fancy upholstered mahogany chair closer towards the edge of the desk and takes a seat.
“And what might that be?” John asks, cautiously, knowing something's up but not quite sure what this is about yet.
“Well... yesterday when we were over in the conference room... you seemed pretty adamant about NOT taking time off to heal up, and I was won...” SSP starts to ask about the conversation from yesterday, but John cuts him off with a hand raised in his face across the desk.
“For fuck's sake. Not you too?” John sighs with frustration.
“Look... I'm just saying... if the doc thinks you should take some time to rec...” Sebastian starts to explain before cuts in.
“The DOC didn't say anything about needing time off. The Doc DID say that I need to be careful or I might hurt this or that... but they always say that. You know that as well as I do. Every time we get into the ring there is a chance it's our last one... it's the risk of the business. I not getting any younger, Seabass. The Doc's are always concerned when I sign for a match... especially given my recent matches this year have been against the best fighters I can sign for. Hell... how many times did you hear the Doc's giving Terry shit when you guys were defending the Tag Titles?” John asks as Sebastian nods and makes a face thinking back on that time so long ago.
“Exactly. I'm fine, OK?” John looks at him across the desk, eye to eye.
“Alright, Man. I'm just looking out for you, just like they are. If you do need some time though... take it, OK? I don't need to lose anyone else to some freakshow trying to make a name for himself, alright?” Sebastian says as he stands up and heads towards the door before turning back to look at John.
"Oh... and by the way. You need to book some time in your busy schedule to work on your catchphrases." Sebastian says with a chuckle.
"What do you mean?" John asks.
"Dude... 'Come ready for a war, because I'm prepared for Ragnarok'! Seriously? Come the fuck on, Man. Pencil in some time to work on your shit. That was lame as hell. I don't think I can be your tag partner anymore if that's the shit that you're gonna have in your promos, Dude. God... have some respect for yourself." Sebastian laughs at himself as he ducks out the door and a notepad flies past and the scene fades to black.