Post by Peter Vaughn on Dec 16, 2022 18:12:11 GMT -5
You never know what’s coming next in life.
You may be cruising along normally, assuming that you’re on the unbreaking path of your lifeline. You’re journeying exactly where you believe you’re supposed to be going.
That’s usually when the road branches off, sending you in directions you never expected.
Sometimes it’s a change in careers, whether voluntarily or not. Sometimes it’s the choices of friends, causing you to choose whether to help them or stay the course. Sometimes it’s the death of a family member that can rock you to the core. You never know where the next turn could be coming from. All you really know is… it’s coming.
Really, you could say that Peter Vaughn’s entire existence has been spent taking the roads less traveled, the paths no one else would have liked to take. But have they been the right paths? To Vaughn, it all feels absolutely normal. He’s charting his own course, driving himself down the road into the unknown, fully in control.
But what if there were other choices in The Mechanic’s future? What if the road is about to change once more?
~The picture opens up on what seems to be a small venue, at least judging by the size of the crowd in attendance. They’re still excited to be there, though, cheering as the music starts to play for the next entrant to come to the ring. The shaggy-haired, face-painted wrestler runs down to the ring and jumps in, seeming to threaten the referee before turning and jumping on the turnbuckle, pumping his fist. He takes a chain off his neck and puts it behind the turnbuckle for safekeeping, as we can hear the announcers’ voices, telling us what’s happening.~
Announcer #1: And now here we have Wildman Watson, a mainstay here in the territory. He’s hoping for his opportunity to put down one of the most hated men in wrestling here tonight, taking advantage of this unique opportunity.
Announcer #2: Yeah, but that’s easier said than done, my friend. This guy is the real deal.
~The music shifts to “This Time It’s Different”, earning the heavy boos of the crowd as Peter Vaughn makes his way to the ring. He doesn’t seem to hear their boos, enjoying himself as he rolls into the ring and gets up. He takes a moment to ‘salute’ them before turning back… and getting tackled by Wildman into the corner!! The bell rings, as the fight is on!~
Announcer #1: Wildman unwilling to wait, starting this one off quickly!
Announcer #2: Are we about to see an upset here?
~Watson pounds away at Vaughn in the corner, as Vaughn covers up as much as possible. Watson then picks Vaughn up, dragging him out of the corner. He lets out a yell before tossing Vaughn into the air, landing a samoan drop!! Vaughn’s down, with Watson hopping up and pounding on his chest. He goes to the ropes, running back for a splash… but Vaughn kips up, avoiding it! As Wildman tries to get up, Vaughn leaps over him, twisting Watson down into a pinning combination! The ref slides in, as Vaughn gets his feet on the ropes… 1… 2… 3!!~
Announcer #1: Wait… that’s it??
Announcer #2: Damn it, they must have just paid Vaughn to appear here, not for how long he stays, because he took the quick way out as soon as he possibly could!
Announcer #1: Typical Vaughn…
~The crowd is pissed now, having wanted to see a great match. Vaughn doesn’t care, as he signals to the referee to come over and raise his hand, while dusting himself off with the other. The referee, having no choice, complies. Trash is flying towards the ring now from dissatisfied ‘customers’. Vaughn smirks at them… not seeing that Wildman is up, furious. He wraps his chain multiple times across his fist, then comes in from behind, swinging for the fences. Vaughn, his back turned, never sees a thing… as the chain crashes into the back of his head.~
~Lights Out~
~As Vaughn’s eyes slowly flutter open, he looks around in confusion at the strange sight all around him. It appears that Vaughn is waking up on the floor of a long hallway in some sort of office. At the very least, the walls are whiter than anyone has ever seen before. Vaughn pulls himself up, carefully checking the back of his head, but finding nothing wrong with it. Confused, he leans on the wall, searching his pockets quickly.~
Peter Vaughn: Hmmm. No cell phone. Terrific. Where the hell am I?
~Vaughn starts walking down the hallway, noticing that there are nameplates on every door he passes. He considers a few of them, but it’s only making him more confused.~
Peter Vaughn: Dynamic Dynamite… Titan 3… Shannon Shagnasty? Seriously? I recognize the names, but… what the hell is this? Some sort of library or something?
~With no response from the empty hallway, Vaughn shrugs his shoulders and keeps walking, checking the names listed on each door. Some are names that any wrestling fan would recognize. Others are names that probably would only be familiar to someone who studies the history of the sport and memorizes every detail. The hallway seems endless, as Vaughn keeps walking, searching for a door that says “Exit”. He doesn’t find it, but he does stop dead when he reads the next nameplate on the door.~
Peter Vaughn: Hmmm. My name. Interesting. Wonder what I’ll find there. Video archives of my greatest matches? Maybe souvenirs from the bloodiest contests I’ve been a part of? Hell, for all I know, it’s the way out, so might as well check it…
~Vaughn grabs the doorknob, checking it to make sure it’s not locked. He twists the knob, slowly opening the door… and then backing away for a moment, as the blinding light from behind the door nearly disintegrates his retinas. The scorching light finally fades after a few seconds, with Vaughn taking a moment to pull himself together before going into the room and peering around. There is a large desk in the center of the room, the only sign of any furniture. The chair behind the desk slowly swings around, showing Vaughn who’s seated there. He looks on in complete bewilderment, with the man taking in his expression and smirking back at him.~
The Accelerator: Not who you expected, then?
~Vaughn’s speechless for a moment, trying to figure out why his first wrestling boss, the original owner of the Global Championship Wrestling Association, is sitting in a room marked for Vaughn. The Accelerator, for his part, just sits and smiles at him, until Vaughn pulls himself back together.~
Peter Vaughn: I… I don’t get it. What are you doing here, Ace? I haven’t seen or heard from you in years. Honestly, I thought you passed away. I figured that made the most sense of anything.
The Accelerator: Y’know, a lot of people think that I’m dead and gone. It’s kind of funny to see all the time.
Peter Vaughn: But… are you… y’know? Dead? Because that would mean that… I got hit, didn’t I? I don’t remember much… but did it… kill me? Is this… Heaven?
~Ace’s eyes go wide for a few seconds before he bursts into laughter, hysterically chuckling away as Vaughn looks at him, not comforted by the reaction. It takes Ace a little while to pull himself together, still fighting to not lose it as he manages to look back at Vaughn.~
The Accelerator: I’m sorry, boyo… I couldn’t help it… the fact that you think YOU are getting into Heaven… oh my god…
~Ace laughs again, shaking his head, as Vaughn has the decency to look a little bit miffed at the reaction. Sure, he doesn’t think about Heaven or Hell that often, but no one wants to think you’re going to that other place.~
The Accelerator: *Laughter dying down* Ahem… to answer your question, no, Peter, you’re not dead, and this isn’t Heaven. I mean, it’d be a pretty boring looking Heaven, wouldn’t it? No, boyo, you could probably think of this more like… purgatory, I suppose. It’s a way for us to show you something… something that could potentially change your life.
~Ace gets up from the desk, dusting himself off, before turning and walking over to the wall. Vaughn follows him, if only to see what he’s doing. It’s clear Vaughn is completely lost right now with what’s going on. Ace pushes on the wall, and a small circle lights up in the middle of it. Vaughn stares at it, recognizing the size and symbol on it. He looks at the wall, just as it opens up like an elevator door. Ace steps into the small room, holding the door for a second.~
The Accelerator: Are you coming, kid?
~After a moment, Vaughn shrugs and walks in next to Ace. The doors close, reforming the wall, so that you’d never know an elevator was located there… if it even was.~
~Inside the elevator, Ace is standing quietly, as Vaughn looks over at him, waiting for an explanation. Ace is just humming along with the elevator muzak. Vaughn, noticing it, suddenly starts.~
Peter Vaughn: Wait… is that the old GCWA theme song?
The Accelerator: It’s a classic, Pete.
Peter Vaughn: Look, are you going to tell me what’s going on here? Where the hell are we going?
The Accelerator: Oh, going? We’re going down… but the reason we’re going there is that it’s time to take a trip through time, boyo.
Peter Vaughn: A trip through… what?
The Accelerator: Don’t worry, we won’t affect the space-time continuum or anything. Nobody will see this. You see, Pete, this is a journey you need to take. You’re going to see some moments from your past… your present… your future. You need to know where things are going, because your time to begin making changes is quickly coming to an end. You’re not on a good path.
Peter Vaughn: Wait… so are you saying this is like with Scrooge? What was it, a Christmas Car…
The Accelerator: No. Nothing like that. This has absolutely nothing to do with that story.
Peter Vaughn: Not even the one with Scrooge McDuck? That was a fun one…
The Accelerator: No, not even that one. This is a completely unique and original journey for you. Ahh, looks like we’re about to our destination.
~The bell rings, with Peter looking up to see a number 12 showing above the elevator door.~
Peter Vaughn: The 12th Floor? What’s there?
The Accelerator: It’s more of a time than a destination. After you…
~Ace suddenly pushes Vaughn by the shoulder, sending him out of the elevator. Vaughn stops himself and looks around, raising his eyebrows in astonishment.~
Peter Vaughn: Wait… is this… my old apartment building??
~It does, indeed, look like a dungy apartment hallway, although the floor looks extremely well-maintained. Ace says nothing, stepping out behind Vaughn, who instinctively heads down the hall. In no time, he finds the door he’s looking for: his old apartment doorway. He slowly reaches towards the doorknob, grasping at it… only for his hand to go right through it. He gasps, looking at his intangible hand, before glancing back at a smug-looking Ace.~
Peter Vaughn: So… we’re not really here? It’s holograms, or something?
The Accelerator: Let’s go with… “or something”...
Peter Vaughn: But… if I can’t open the door, then how do we go in? Or are we supposed to?
The Accelerator: Peter… stop being an idiot. Think things through.
Peter Vaughn: What? Oh… OH. Right. If we’re intangible…
~Vaughn turns and walks right through the door, with Ace following behind them. We find ourselves inside Vaughn’s old apartment, be it ever so humble. And boy, is it humble. Vaughn looks around, then seems to consider something.~
Peter Vaughn: Wait, so if we can go through solid mass, why are we able to stand on the floor? Shouldn’t we be falling through the building?
The Accelerator: Eh, we don’t think about plot-breaking questions like that. C’mon, you know where you’re likely to be.
~The two men move around to the small kitchen, where we see a young man sitting there, all of 12 years old, going through his homework. He’s making notes to the side, as a good student would, with the older Vaughn shaking his head.~
Peter Vaughn: I always did want to be a brainiac, even if I never quite made it there.
The Accelerator: Well, I know you were hoping to someday find a way to go to college, even if it didn’t look very likely at this point. After all, your mother was MIA at this point, and your father was barely making enough money to keep you guys in the apartment. A college fund wasn’t feasible, was it?
Peter Vaughn: Yeah, and all the scholarships wanted kids from the richer side of the tracks. Never made much sense to me, really.
~In front of them, the younger Vaughn suddenly checks his watch, a beat-up hand-me-down that probably was found on the street somewhere. He nods and gets up, putting away his books before heading for the door.~
Peter Vaughn: Huh. Where do you think I’m heading, do you think?
The Accelerator: I believe on this particular day you had volunteered to help your father do repair work in a recently abandoned apartment. It was in pretty poor condition, and you didn’t want him to do it alone.
Peter Vaughn: Right, right. The drug addict’s apartment. That place reeked, especially where he died. I had to do a lot of recaulking in that bathroom of new tiles.
~The two follow the younger Vaughn out the door, allowing them to exit without sliding through the walls. They move off down the hallway.~
The Accelerator: And yet you volunteered willingly, out of the goodness of your own heart, to help your father.
Peter Vaughn: Uh huh… and what, you’re trying to say that because I don’t do that anymore, I’m “on the wrong path” or something? Please. What did it ever get me, doing handiwork for my father? I didn’t get paid. I didn’t get any respect from anyone. In fact, the school kids in my building razzed me harder every time they found out about it. It made my life hell as a kid.
The Accelerator: Did it? Is that truly how you remember it? Does that kid in front of us look unhappy?
Peter Vaughn: No… he looks like a fool.
~Ace frowns, then suddenly turns, shoving Vaughn sideways. Vaughn, caught off-guard, stumbles into the elevator, which is suddenly next to them. Ace gets in next to him, pressing a button, and the elevator begins to rise.~
Peter Vaughn: What was that for?
The Accelerator: You needed the push, believe it, boyo.
Peter Vaughn: Whatever, man, don’t think just because you’re some sort of guide that I won’t knock you out.
~The elevator door signals again, this time on 16. The two men go out, finding themselves in a loud arena. Vaughn looks around, immediately feeling more at home here than he ever did in the apartment.~
Peter Vaughn: Cool. This is better. Who’s on the card tonight?
The Accelerator: A man you should definitely recognize.
~Ace points towards the ring, with Vaughn glancing over. His smile fades as he sees himself, The Janitor, taking a pounding in the corner from a monstrously-sized man. The Janitor stretches out his hand, looking for any help, but there’s no one in his corner as he continues to get hit.~
Peter Vaughn: Aw, man, I don’t want to see this. This is when I… I….
The Accelerator: Sucked?
Peter Vaughn: God, this is terrible. At least go for the eyes, Peter! Get out of there!
The Accelerator: No, he won’t do that. Remember, boyo, this is when you believed in being a good example for the fans, always fighting back and never giving up.
Peter Vaughn: I gave up all the time!
The Accelerator: Well, y’know, I meant metaphorically but whatever. The point is, this is when you wrestled for me, when you had a heart of gold.
Peter Vaughn: It’s the only gold I ever had. Damn, man, this is pathetic.
~In the ring, the Janitor is now in an airplane spin, screaming as he’s twirled around and around. The older Vaughn can’t even look at it, turning away in helpless frustration.~
The Accelerator: You want to get in there, don’t you?
Peter Vaughn: If I wasn’t phased out, I’d kick that guy’s ass. In fact, I’m going to look him up once I’m back in the real world and break his leg.
The Accelerator: Nice.
~Without looking back, Vaughn flips his hand towards the ring in an annoyed gesture.~
Peter Vaughn: Again, what’s the point, Ace? Why show me this? It just reminds me how bad things were when I refused to bend any rules. Being a goody-two-shoes just led me to get brutalized.
The Accelerator: Maybe… but you did win some matches, didn’t you? And you remember how loud the crowd cheered when that happened? They were always on your side.
Peter Vaughn: They liked the underdog, because that’s what they always were. Their support did a fat lot of good when I got my ass kicked day in and day out. The only good thing here is that I learned how to come back from a beating stronger than ever.
The Accelerator: You also inspired many fans to enter the business, boyo, including those two kids in the front row. These two…
~As Ace starts towards the boys, apparently going to reveal the identity, Vaughn turns and walks in the opposite direction… back to the elevator. Ace, thrown off, turns and tries to hurry after him.~
The Accelerator: Hold on, boyo, I’m not…
Peter Vaughn: Just give it up, gramps. The world’s had enough of you, and so have I.
~Vaughn gets into the elevator, pressing a couple of the buttons at random.~
Peter Vaughn: Those days there? They’re long gone… and so are you.
~Ace reaches out, but he can’t reach the doors as they’re closing. The elevator starts moving, with Vaughn sitting back with a grin. He’s thrown off-balance, though, as the elevator is suddenly moving… sideways? After some time passes, the elevator shifts again, nearly knocking Vaughn over. As he regains his balance, Vaughn feels the elevator come to a stop. The doors wrench open… ~
Peter Vaughn: Oh, c’mon…
Jonathan Barrows: Hello, Peter. Long time no see.
~The elevator lights go out, showing that the ride is powered down for the time being, so Vaughn steps out into the open space to join Barrows. He stares at the man who made his life a living hell for a time, having tortured him and sent him into a very dark place during his time in OCW.~
Peter Vaughn: Don’t tell me you’re one of the ghosts.
Jonathan Barrows: Me? Nah. I’m still alive and well. I’m a general manager in the XWF, remember?
Peter Vaughn: Right. You’re on Savage… which is why I always would rather wrestle on Warfare.
Jonathan Barrows: Not going to be able to avoid me much longer there, friend. But we’ll deal with that later. For now, I’ve got some visions to show you.
Peter Vaughn: Seriously, can we just skip it? This whole thing is ridiculous. You’re not going to show me anything I haven’t seen before…
~Barrows suddenly raises his hand, snapping his fingers. The whole area warps around them, startling Vaughn, but before he can even lose his balance, everything settles back in… showing us the ring we saw at the beginning of this video. Inside the ring, the referee is pressing some sort of red cloth to the back of Vaughn’s head. If you look close, you can tell that towel used to be white, but Vaughn’s bleeding like a stuck pig.~
Peter Vaughn: Damn… I stand corrected. I’ve never seen anything like this…
~The intangible Vaughn steps over to look at his downed self with wonder. He looks to the side, where security is doing their best to secure the Wildman before he can do any more damage.~
Peter Vaughn: Asshole. Hitting a guy while his back is turned, really brave there…
~The hypocrisy is lost on Vaughn, even as Barrows shakes his head.~
Jonathan Barrows: I’ve seen you looking better, Peter.
Peter Vaughn: Okay, yeah, that kind of stinks, but you know me: I rebound fairly quickly. I’ll do the same here.
Jonathan Barrows: Oh, I’m sure you will. Of course, it’d probably be better if the medics were hurrying to the ring, wouldn’t it? They sure seem to be taking their time.
Peter Vaughn: Damn slackers. Show me some respect!
~Vaughn yells out at the slowly approaching medics, who, of course, can’t hear him. Barrows smiles, nodding in their direction.~
Jonathan Barrows: You know that if it was Kido bleeding away in this ring, they’d be here faster.
Peter Vaughn: So what? If I was a ‘nice guy’, would I get better medical care? Ohhh, what a selling point…
~Vaughn’s sarcasm is obvious, as Barrows shrugs.~
Jonathan Barrows: So how about we check in on what your family and friends are thinking at this moment?
Peter Vaughn: What do you…
~Barrows snaps his fingers again, and we again warp to a new location. It stabilizes inside a small but well kept house. Vaughn glares at Barrows, trying to steady himself.~
Peter Vaughn: That is SO annoying…
~Barrows just points to the side, where Vaughn can see his half-brother, Thomas Hill, watching the livestream on his computer. He’s looking a little concerned.~
Thomas Hill: Hey, Mom! Come in here a second! I think Peter’s hurt…
~The mother walks in, having birthed both Vaughn and Hill in separate families. She peeks at the view, but almost immediately dismisses it.~
Mrs. Hill: Oh, Thomas, you know that stuff’s all prearranged and all. Peter’s perfectly fine. Now, c’mon, you can take me to the hair salon.
Thomas Hill: But… but I…
Mrs. Hill: We’ll stop by the Redbox on the way home and get a movie or two.
Thomas Hill: …. Sure, Ma.
~Thomas closes the laptop and gets up, heading to the door with his mother. Vaughn, aghast, watches them go.~
Peter Vaughn: Wait, hold on! You guys don’t even want to know if I make it??
Jonathan Barrows: Since when have you ever given them a reason to be concerned about you, Peter?
Peter Vaughn: Okay, but… that’s just a fluke. I’m sure some people are watching and worried about me…
Jonathan Barrows: Well, let’s see…
Peter Vaughn: Hold on…
~The finger snap twists them into the offices of Chronic Chris Page Enterprises. We see Chris Page seated at a desk, working the phones, as the live footage plays behind him. He doesn’t seem to be paying it any attention, though, only glancing over briefly before continuing his phone conversation.~
Chris Page: Look, we just need to make sure CCPE Vs. The World is the biggest event to ever air. So get that merchandise finished in time, or so help me, I’ll own you for the rest of your life!
~Page hangs up, then immediately redials. Barrows looks over at Vaughn, who doesn’t know what to say.~
Peter Vaughn: I mean… he’s a busy man…
Jonathan Barrows: Uh huh…
~Barrows quickly raises his hand again, and the snap goes down once more. This time, we find ourselves in what appears to be a bar. Vaughn looks around, then instinctively ducks as a bottle flies towards him. Of course, it would have gone right through him, and he stands up sheepishly a second later.~
Peter Vaughn: Guess instincts don’t matter when you’re intangible. Where are we now?
Jonathan Barrows: This establishment is showing your match live as well, although not many are watching it, as you can see.
~Vaughn peers over to the right, where a wild brawl is still ongoing. Two men go flying backwards, having been KO'ed by strikes from what appears to be a brick. Bam Miller stands over them, laughing, before ducking another assault and tackling the man backwards. Vaughn takes it in, then turns back to Barrows.~
Peter Vaughn: Okay, this one doesn’t count. Bam loves to fight, after all. He’d be watching if he could.
Jonathan Barrows: Sure he would. And I assume the guy back there would be as well?
~Barrows points to the side, where we can see Xavier Lux sitting, chugging back a beer. He laughs, then turns back to the two women in front of him, completely ignoring the screen above the bar.~
Peter Vaughn: He's probably drunk...
Jonathan Barrows: Uh huh...
~We have one more snap, taking us into what appears to be a dark void. Vaughn pushes himself back to his feet, as this was the toughest ride so far.~
Peter Vaughn: If you snap your fingers ONE MORE TIME…
Jonathan Barrows: Just face it, Peter. You’ve been badly injured on live television, and none of your supposed ‘friends’ seem to care. All most of them care about is the paycheck you can help deliver them.
Peter Vaughn: You’re blowing this out of proportion. Sure, it doesn’t look great, but I’ve made a living by showing I can take care of myself. I’m not looking for sympathy from anyone. I don’t NEED anyone. You’ll see, Barrows, you’ll see…
Jonathan Barrows: Well… if that’s how you see it… good luck, Peter…
~Barrows raises up once more.~
Peter Vaughn: Don’t you DARE…
~The fingers snap… and Vaughn warps on his own into an empty theater. He looks around, trying to settle his stomach from the last ride.~
Peter Vaughn: Damn it. I’m going to punch him in the jaw the next time I see him…
~Vaughn straightens up, taking in his location, looking more confused than ever.~
Peter Vaughn: Now where the hell am I?
Voice: I should think that would be obvious…
~Vaughn spins around as a looming spirit slowly comes out of the darkness behind him. The figure towers over Vaughn as it reaches up, pulling its hood slowly back… to reveal Andrew Logan, one of Vaughn’s greatest adversaries.~
Andrew Logan: Welcome to your future, Vaughn.
Peter Vaughn: You son of a…
~Vaughn immediately charges at Logan, throwing a massive hook at Logan’s chin. But Logan seems to flow out of the way, easily avoiding the strike. Vaughn tries again and again, swinging wildly, but Logan, for some reason, can’t be hit. He finally catches Vaughn by the wrist, hanging on and keeping Vaughn from continuing his assault.~
Andrew Logan: That’s not what we’re here for, Vaughn. You know that.
~Logan throws Vaughn to the ground, sending him rolling down the theater path for several rows. Vaughn manages to stop himself and get up, still considering trying a tackle, but he stops himself, breathing heavily.~
Andrew Logan: That’s better. You never were a complete doofus, Vaughn. It’s the reason I always wanted you to join me. Chaos is always more fun in a group, as you well know.
Peter Vaughn: Shut up, Andrew. I’m never joining your cult.
Andrew Logan: That cult is in the past anyway, and again, that’s not what we’re here for. I’m just supposed to show you what the future holds for “The Mechanic”. Would you like to see?
Peter Vaughn: …. Fine. Show me.
~Logan grins evilly, then pulls out of his robe what appears to be some sort of remote. He pushes a couple of buttons and turns the joysticks, adjusting them, then presses the start button. Immediately, the seats all around Logan and Vaughn fill with well-dressed people, all sitting up and taking notice as the person at the podium begins speaking.~
Peter Vaughn: Whoa…
Andrew Logan: C’mon, Mechy, your seats are just ahead.
~Logan grabs hold of Vaughn by the neck, directing him down the aisle forcibly, with Vaughn struggling the whole way. Logan, unstoppable, throws Vaughn into the seat, making him watch as the speech continues.~
Peter Vaughn: Okay, this is Hell. I hate speeches.
Andrew Logan: Just listen for once, Vaughn. It’s important.
~Vaughn grumbles and slouches back in the chair, even as the man at the podium begins to wrap up what he’s saying.~
Man At Podium: … and throughout the years, despite how we all felt about him, this man continued to find ways to win. He’s one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the history of the sport, and no one can argue that he did enough to earn this prestigious honor here tonight. So let’s bring him out now. The newest entry into the Wrestling Hall of Fame… “The Manipulator” Peter Vaughn!!
~The crowd politely claps, but there isn’t much heart in it. Vaughn, in the audience, leans over to Logan with a scowl.~
Peter Vaughn: “The Manipulator”? What the hell is that?
Andrew Logan: What, you didn’t think you’d change your nickname in the future? You used to be called The Janitor, remember?
Peter Vaughn: Yeah, but… the Manipulator? That’s terrible…
Andrew Logan: I agree. You’re an idiot for choosing it.
Peter Vaughn: Bastard…
~Vaughn takes a quick swipe at Logan again, but again, Logan’s ready for it, avoiding it. Meanwhile, on the stage, a weary-looking Peter Vaughn comes out on stage, using a set of crutches to help get him to the mic. He smiles, seeing the gold-plated statue that awaits him, cradling it with one hand for a second before getting straightened up to the mic.~
Future Vaughn: Ladies and gentlemen… as I stand here, I can’t help but feel that this is such a tremendous honor. Sure, it’s one that should have come much earlier. After all, you’ve already inducted Kido, Flynn, Lux, Gloves, and all the rest. But that’s beside the point. I’m here now, and now is all that matters.
~Future Vaughn grins again, unable to take his eyes off the prize that’s sitting in front of him.~
Future Vaughn: When I started out in this business so long ago, I knew that I would eventually end up here. With every World Championship I placed in my possession, I believed that the respect would come my way for my prestigious wrestling talents. This was the final goal in my amazing wrestling career, and I’d like to thank all the members of the voting public who brought me this achievement.
~He nods towards the crowd, as if trying to show them a little gratitude, but it doesn’t come off very well, and there’s only a weak response of claps to the gesture.~
Future Vaughn: I would also like to thank all the people who helped me get here tonight. The Accelerator, for throwing me into this business, god rest his soul. Men like Outcast, Jim Caedus, and Drew Archyle, who helped me immensely by their losses in our World Title matches. To Mark Flynn, who proved himself to be one of the greatest tag-team partners imaginable, even as we turned on each other from week to week. We still kicked everyone’s asses, didn’t we, Mark?
~We can see an older Mark Flynn nodding in agreement in the audience, with the audience members around him looking pleased to be seated next to the well-respected wrestler.~
Future Vaughn: There are so many in this audience that I’ve beaten in one way or another. Thank you all for putting your bodies on the line and agreeing to fight me. I enjoyed every minute of it, even when the results didn’t go my way. To all of those present, thanks for taking the fall.
~This doesn’t go over well in the audience, except for the present-day Vaughn, who gives a cheer that no one can hear. Logan looks on with a smirk, thinking Vaughn’s reaction is pretty funny.~
Future Vaughn: There are so many more I could thank. Chris Page, for channeling my rage. Xavier Lux, for having my back, at least at first. Theo Pryce, for signing me to the XWF so long ago. So many others, too many to thank personally. So let me just say that if you helped get me here? Thanks. This prize is just as much yours as mine… well, not really, but you get the point.
~Future Vaughn reaches out and picks up the statue, cradling it for a moment, as he balances on his crutches.~
Future Vaughn: After all the pain and suffering… after all the Plunges and Purges… it finally happened. I can hardly believe it. Peter Vaughn… Hall of Famer… you guys better believe it!! Yes!!
~The older man raises the statue over his head, which is a dangerous maneuver with crutches. Luckily, there are two younger wrestlers who have joined Vaughn onstage, helping to stabilize him. The audience gives a general applause as Vaughn starts heading for the back, making sure to hang tightly onto the statue. Present-day Vaughn is on his feet, the only member of the standing ovation. Beside him, Logan gets out his remote again, pressing a button, and every audience member except for the two of them freezes in place. Vaughn looks around at them, before turning back to Logan with a big smile on his face.~
Peter Vaughn: So what’s the point of showing me this? You’re basically telling me that, in the future, I’m going to get everything I ever wanted. THIS is supposed to inspire me to change? Hah! This was great!!
Andrew Logan: It certainly seems that way, doesn’t it? After all, you always wanted to be a Hall of Famer. You blew it in OCW, XWF seemed unlikely, the other feds closed one by one… but you finally found one willing to induct you, didn’t you?
Peter Vaughn: Hey, it counts! From this point forward, my man can put that right after his name on everything he owns. Every autograph just went up in value, too!
Andrew Logan: All true.
Peter Vaughn: So again… why show this to me? I don’t get it.
Andrew Logan: Well, because there are always two sides, aren’t there? Shall we flip this around and see?
~With that, Logan presses a few more buttons, and the whole world seems to go topsy-turvy. When things settle, Vaughn gets up on his knees and looks around. They appear to be back at the PMV Ranch, the property Vaughn bought in 2022 to be his grandest home ever. The place doesn’t look quite like it used to, however.~
Peter Vaughn: Damn. What the hell happened here? Another fire? The place looks almost… abandoned…
Andrew Logan: Oh, a large portion of it has been. There is no more ranch work done here. No farming, either. It’s just simply a homestead at this point. A very lonely homestead, really, considering that you’ve chased off practically anyone who would work here.
Peter Vaughn: I chased them off? Wait, even Thomas?
Andrew Logan: The guy had to find a life eventually, didn’t he?
Peter Vaughn: Huh. Honestly, I wouldn’t have thought so. Good for Thomas. So, what, no one lives here anymore?
Andrew Logan: Oh, just one person…
~Logan gestures at the front porch of the ranch house. Vaughn walks over that direction, taking in the sole individual sitting in a rocking chair, still hanging tightly onto the statue he was given recently. We can see that it’s Peter Vaughn, all alone, left to his own devices as he sits there quietly, studying the statue.~
Peter Vaughn: So… nobody came out to do an after-party or anything? Nobody wanted to celebrate this huge achievement?
Andrew Logan: Who would? You ended up betraying most of them over the years, didn’t you? No, Peter… you’re where your path was always going to take you… on an island of separation from the rest of your peers.
Peter Vaughn: Huh… I never really cared too much to be around crowds… but this…
~Vaughn looks thoughtful, even as we see the future Vaughn suddenly decides to get up. He’s still hanging onto the statue as he limps over to the liquor cabinet, popping it open and grabbing a bottle. He starts to turn towards the glasses, when suddenly, he freezes up. The bottle falls, shattering on the ground, as Future Vaughn clutches at his chest. He slowly slumps over to the ground, the statue toppling over onto its side. Present-Day Vaughn hurries over to him, but of course, there’s nothing he can do.~
Peter Vaughn: Damn it! This can’t be it, can it?
Andrew Logan: You see now what comes from a life of solitude and betrayals, don’t you, Vaughn? This is what happens…
~Future Vaughn squints through pain-filled eyes towards the statue, slowly reaching out one shaking hand towards it. He can’t quite get there, as the hand falls short, lifeless, to the ground. As the body lies there, Vaughn gets back to his feet, a little shaky himself.~
Peter Vaughn: So… I don’t get to enjoy it… not even for a little while…
Andrew Logan: Is that all you’re getting from this, Vaughn? Look at the bigger picture for once. If you continue to act the way you do, behave the way you are, this is your future. You’ve got a lot of work to do if you want to avoid this…
~Vaughn stares down at his own lifeless body, then nods his head a few times.~
Peter Vaughn: You’re right, Logan. You’ve shown me what I need to do. I appreciate it.
Andrew Logan: So you’re going to start treating your fellow wrestlers better in the future? Being a better human being?
Peter Vaughn: … Are you high? I’m simply going to remember to invest in LifeAlert. That’ll give me a button I can press, and they’ll come rescue me when this happens. I’ll live on for sure.
Andrew Logan: … That’s insane!! That’s not the lesson at all!! Now you listen here, Vaughn, and listen good!!
~Logan grabs hold of Vaughn’s shoulders, spinning him around… but this is apparently exactly what Vaughn had been waiting for. He snaps his arms up, grabbing hold of Logan, and immediately twists him around, dropping him with the Keyholder!!! Logan, holding his head, struggles to get up, but Vaughn is waiting for him, landing a spiritually-charged version of the Revenged!!! Logan’s out, as out as a spirit can be, at least, as Vaughn gets to his feet and stares down at him. He reaches into Logan’s pocket, feeling around, and eventually pulls out the remote controller. He studies it for a second, before looking down at Logan and giving him a kick in the side.~
Peter Vaughn: Game over, jerk.
~Vaughn then presses the appropriate buttons, and the whole world seems to dissolve all around him into a bright light…~
~Achingly, Vaughn manages to open his eyes. He painfully looks around, taking in the fact that he's laying inside an ambulance that's clearly in motion. The medic, seated nearby, glances over his direction. Seeing Vaughn starting to stir, the medic comes over to check on him.~
Medic: Sir! Glad to see you waking up. You took one hell of a hit. We’re taking you to the hospital now, and I guarantee you’ll get the best treatment. Just answer a few questions for me… how many fingers am I holding up?
~The medic raises his hand with two fingers, with Vaughn peering at them for a few seconds.~
Peter Vaughn: …. Two…
Medic: That’s right. Now… can you tell me what year it is?
~Vaughn looks a little more confused at this question, trying to think through what year it was before he started jumping all around the timestream.~
Peter Vaughn: … Ummm…. 20… 2022…
Medic: Very good. And can you tell me your name?
~With that question, a small smile appears on Vaughn’s face, with his hand moving as if cradling something to his chest.~
Peter Vaughn: My name… is Peter Vaughn…. Wrestling Hall of Famer…
~Vaughn leans his head backwards into the pillow, closing his eyes, as he continues to smile. The medic, apparently only caring about the name, works to adjust Vaughn’s IV, even as the ambulance continues on its way to the hospital. We slowly fade out.~
You may be cruising along normally, assuming that you’re on the unbreaking path of your lifeline. You’re journeying exactly where you believe you’re supposed to be going.
That’s usually when the road branches off, sending you in directions you never expected.
Sometimes it’s a change in careers, whether voluntarily or not. Sometimes it’s the choices of friends, causing you to choose whether to help them or stay the course. Sometimes it’s the death of a family member that can rock you to the core. You never know where the next turn could be coming from. All you really know is… it’s coming.
Really, you could say that Peter Vaughn’s entire existence has been spent taking the roads less traveled, the paths no one else would have liked to take. But have they been the right paths? To Vaughn, it all feels absolutely normal. He’s charting his own course, driving himself down the road into the unknown, fully in control.
But what if there were other choices in The Mechanic’s future? What if the road is about to change once more?
~The picture opens up on what seems to be a small venue, at least judging by the size of the crowd in attendance. They’re still excited to be there, though, cheering as the music starts to play for the next entrant to come to the ring. The shaggy-haired, face-painted wrestler runs down to the ring and jumps in, seeming to threaten the referee before turning and jumping on the turnbuckle, pumping his fist. He takes a chain off his neck and puts it behind the turnbuckle for safekeeping, as we can hear the announcers’ voices, telling us what’s happening.~
Announcer #1: And now here we have Wildman Watson, a mainstay here in the territory. He’s hoping for his opportunity to put down one of the most hated men in wrestling here tonight, taking advantage of this unique opportunity.
Announcer #2: Yeah, but that’s easier said than done, my friend. This guy is the real deal.
~The music shifts to “This Time It’s Different”, earning the heavy boos of the crowd as Peter Vaughn makes his way to the ring. He doesn’t seem to hear their boos, enjoying himself as he rolls into the ring and gets up. He takes a moment to ‘salute’ them before turning back… and getting tackled by Wildman into the corner!! The bell rings, as the fight is on!~
Announcer #1: Wildman unwilling to wait, starting this one off quickly!
Announcer #2: Are we about to see an upset here?
~Watson pounds away at Vaughn in the corner, as Vaughn covers up as much as possible. Watson then picks Vaughn up, dragging him out of the corner. He lets out a yell before tossing Vaughn into the air, landing a samoan drop!! Vaughn’s down, with Watson hopping up and pounding on his chest. He goes to the ropes, running back for a splash… but Vaughn kips up, avoiding it! As Wildman tries to get up, Vaughn leaps over him, twisting Watson down into a pinning combination! The ref slides in, as Vaughn gets his feet on the ropes… 1… 2… 3!!~
Announcer #1: Wait… that’s it??
Announcer #2: Damn it, they must have just paid Vaughn to appear here, not for how long he stays, because he took the quick way out as soon as he possibly could!
Announcer #1: Typical Vaughn…
~The crowd is pissed now, having wanted to see a great match. Vaughn doesn’t care, as he signals to the referee to come over and raise his hand, while dusting himself off with the other. The referee, having no choice, complies. Trash is flying towards the ring now from dissatisfied ‘customers’. Vaughn smirks at them… not seeing that Wildman is up, furious. He wraps his chain multiple times across his fist, then comes in from behind, swinging for the fences. Vaughn, his back turned, never sees a thing… as the chain crashes into the back of his head.~
~Lights Out~
~As Vaughn’s eyes slowly flutter open, he looks around in confusion at the strange sight all around him. It appears that Vaughn is waking up on the floor of a long hallway in some sort of office. At the very least, the walls are whiter than anyone has ever seen before. Vaughn pulls himself up, carefully checking the back of his head, but finding nothing wrong with it. Confused, he leans on the wall, searching his pockets quickly.~
Peter Vaughn: Hmmm. No cell phone. Terrific. Where the hell am I?
~Vaughn starts walking down the hallway, noticing that there are nameplates on every door he passes. He considers a few of them, but it’s only making him more confused.~
Peter Vaughn: Dynamic Dynamite… Titan 3… Shannon Shagnasty? Seriously? I recognize the names, but… what the hell is this? Some sort of library or something?
~With no response from the empty hallway, Vaughn shrugs his shoulders and keeps walking, checking the names listed on each door. Some are names that any wrestling fan would recognize. Others are names that probably would only be familiar to someone who studies the history of the sport and memorizes every detail. The hallway seems endless, as Vaughn keeps walking, searching for a door that says “Exit”. He doesn’t find it, but he does stop dead when he reads the next nameplate on the door.~
Peter Vaughn: Hmmm. My name. Interesting. Wonder what I’ll find there. Video archives of my greatest matches? Maybe souvenirs from the bloodiest contests I’ve been a part of? Hell, for all I know, it’s the way out, so might as well check it…
~Vaughn grabs the doorknob, checking it to make sure it’s not locked. He twists the knob, slowly opening the door… and then backing away for a moment, as the blinding light from behind the door nearly disintegrates his retinas. The scorching light finally fades after a few seconds, with Vaughn taking a moment to pull himself together before going into the room and peering around. There is a large desk in the center of the room, the only sign of any furniture. The chair behind the desk slowly swings around, showing Vaughn who’s seated there. He looks on in complete bewilderment, with the man taking in his expression and smirking back at him.~
The Accelerator: Not who you expected, then?
~Vaughn’s speechless for a moment, trying to figure out why his first wrestling boss, the original owner of the Global Championship Wrestling Association, is sitting in a room marked for Vaughn. The Accelerator, for his part, just sits and smiles at him, until Vaughn pulls himself back together.~
Peter Vaughn: I… I don’t get it. What are you doing here, Ace? I haven’t seen or heard from you in years. Honestly, I thought you passed away. I figured that made the most sense of anything.
The Accelerator: Y’know, a lot of people think that I’m dead and gone. It’s kind of funny to see all the time.
Peter Vaughn: But… are you… y’know? Dead? Because that would mean that… I got hit, didn’t I? I don’t remember much… but did it… kill me? Is this… Heaven?
~Ace’s eyes go wide for a few seconds before he bursts into laughter, hysterically chuckling away as Vaughn looks at him, not comforted by the reaction. It takes Ace a little while to pull himself together, still fighting to not lose it as he manages to look back at Vaughn.~
The Accelerator: I’m sorry, boyo… I couldn’t help it… the fact that you think YOU are getting into Heaven… oh my god…
~Ace laughs again, shaking his head, as Vaughn has the decency to look a little bit miffed at the reaction. Sure, he doesn’t think about Heaven or Hell that often, but no one wants to think you’re going to that other place.~
The Accelerator: *Laughter dying down* Ahem… to answer your question, no, Peter, you’re not dead, and this isn’t Heaven. I mean, it’d be a pretty boring looking Heaven, wouldn’t it? No, boyo, you could probably think of this more like… purgatory, I suppose. It’s a way for us to show you something… something that could potentially change your life.
~Ace gets up from the desk, dusting himself off, before turning and walking over to the wall. Vaughn follows him, if only to see what he’s doing. It’s clear Vaughn is completely lost right now with what’s going on. Ace pushes on the wall, and a small circle lights up in the middle of it. Vaughn stares at it, recognizing the size and symbol on it. He looks at the wall, just as it opens up like an elevator door. Ace steps into the small room, holding the door for a second.~
The Accelerator: Are you coming, kid?
~After a moment, Vaughn shrugs and walks in next to Ace. The doors close, reforming the wall, so that you’d never know an elevator was located there… if it even was.~
~Inside the elevator, Ace is standing quietly, as Vaughn looks over at him, waiting for an explanation. Ace is just humming along with the elevator muzak. Vaughn, noticing it, suddenly starts.~
Peter Vaughn: Wait… is that the old GCWA theme song?
The Accelerator: It’s a classic, Pete.
Peter Vaughn: Look, are you going to tell me what’s going on here? Where the hell are we going?
The Accelerator: Oh, going? We’re going down… but the reason we’re going there is that it’s time to take a trip through time, boyo.
Peter Vaughn: A trip through… what?
The Accelerator: Don’t worry, we won’t affect the space-time continuum or anything. Nobody will see this. You see, Pete, this is a journey you need to take. You’re going to see some moments from your past… your present… your future. You need to know where things are going, because your time to begin making changes is quickly coming to an end. You’re not on a good path.
Peter Vaughn: Wait… so are you saying this is like with Scrooge? What was it, a Christmas Car…
The Accelerator: No. Nothing like that. This has absolutely nothing to do with that story.
Peter Vaughn: Not even the one with Scrooge McDuck? That was a fun one…
The Accelerator: No, not even that one. This is a completely unique and original journey for you. Ahh, looks like we’re about to our destination.
~The bell rings, with Peter looking up to see a number 12 showing above the elevator door.~
Peter Vaughn: The 12th Floor? What’s there?
The Accelerator: It’s more of a time than a destination. After you…
~Ace suddenly pushes Vaughn by the shoulder, sending him out of the elevator. Vaughn stops himself and looks around, raising his eyebrows in astonishment.~
Peter Vaughn: Wait… is this… my old apartment building??
~It does, indeed, look like a dungy apartment hallway, although the floor looks extremely well-maintained. Ace says nothing, stepping out behind Vaughn, who instinctively heads down the hall. In no time, he finds the door he’s looking for: his old apartment doorway. He slowly reaches towards the doorknob, grasping at it… only for his hand to go right through it. He gasps, looking at his intangible hand, before glancing back at a smug-looking Ace.~
Peter Vaughn: So… we’re not really here? It’s holograms, or something?
The Accelerator: Let’s go with… “or something”...
Peter Vaughn: But… if I can’t open the door, then how do we go in? Or are we supposed to?
The Accelerator: Peter… stop being an idiot. Think things through.
Peter Vaughn: What? Oh… OH. Right. If we’re intangible…
~Vaughn turns and walks right through the door, with Ace following behind them. We find ourselves inside Vaughn’s old apartment, be it ever so humble. And boy, is it humble. Vaughn looks around, then seems to consider something.~
Peter Vaughn: Wait, so if we can go through solid mass, why are we able to stand on the floor? Shouldn’t we be falling through the building?
The Accelerator: Eh, we don’t think about plot-breaking questions like that. C’mon, you know where you’re likely to be.
~The two men move around to the small kitchen, where we see a young man sitting there, all of 12 years old, going through his homework. He’s making notes to the side, as a good student would, with the older Vaughn shaking his head.~
Peter Vaughn: I always did want to be a brainiac, even if I never quite made it there.
The Accelerator: Well, I know you were hoping to someday find a way to go to college, even if it didn’t look very likely at this point. After all, your mother was MIA at this point, and your father was barely making enough money to keep you guys in the apartment. A college fund wasn’t feasible, was it?
Peter Vaughn: Yeah, and all the scholarships wanted kids from the richer side of the tracks. Never made much sense to me, really.
~In front of them, the younger Vaughn suddenly checks his watch, a beat-up hand-me-down that probably was found on the street somewhere. He nods and gets up, putting away his books before heading for the door.~
Peter Vaughn: Huh. Where do you think I’m heading, do you think?
The Accelerator: I believe on this particular day you had volunteered to help your father do repair work in a recently abandoned apartment. It was in pretty poor condition, and you didn’t want him to do it alone.
Peter Vaughn: Right, right. The drug addict’s apartment. That place reeked, especially where he died. I had to do a lot of recaulking in that bathroom of new tiles.
~The two follow the younger Vaughn out the door, allowing them to exit without sliding through the walls. They move off down the hallway.~
The Accelerator: And yet you volunteered willingly, out of the goodness of your own heart, to help your father.
Peter Vaughn: Uh huh… and what, you’re trying to say that because I don’t do that anymore, I’m “on the wrong path” or something? Please. What did it ever get me, doing handiwork for my father? I didn’t get paid. I didn’t get any respect from anyone. In fact, the school kids in my building razzed me harder every time they found out about it. It made my life hell as a kid.
The Accelerator: Did it? Is that truly how you remember it? Does that kid in front of us look unhappy?
Peter Vaughn: No… he looks like a fool.
~Ace frowns, then suddenly turns, shoving Vaughn sideways. Vaughn, caught off-guard, stumbles into the elevator, which is suddenly next to them. Ace gets in next to him, pressing a button, and the elevator begins to rise.~
Peter Vaughn: What was that for?
The Accelerator: You needed the push, believe it, boyo.
Peter Vaughn: Whatever, man, don’t think just because you’re some sort of guide that I won’t knock you out.
~The elevator door signals again, this time on 16. The two men go out, finding themselves in a loud arena. Vaughn looks around, immediately feeling more at home here than he ever did in the apartment.~
Peter Vaughn: Cool. This is better. Who’s on the card tonight?
The Accelerator: A man you should definitely recognize.
~Ace points towards the ring, with Vaughn glancing over. His smile fades as he sees himself, The Janitor, taking a pounding in the corner from a monstrously-sized man. The Janitor stretches out his hand, looking for any help, but there’s no one in his corner as he continues to get hit.~
Peter Vaughn: Aw, man, I don’t want to see this. This is when I… I….
The Accelerator: Sucked?
Peter Vaughn: God, this is terrible. At least go for the eyes, Peter! Get out of there!
The Accelerator: No, he won’t do that. Remember, boyo, this is when you believed in being a good example for the fans, always fighting back and never giving up.
Peter Vaughn: I gave up all the time!
The Accelerator: Well, y’know, I meant metaphorically but whatever. The point is, this is when you wrestled for me, when you had a heart of gold.
Peter Vaughn: It’s the only gold I ever had. Damn, man, this is pathetic.
~In the ring, the Janitor is now in an airplane spin, screaming as he’s twirled around and around. The older Vaughn can’t even look at it, turning away in helpless frustration.~
The Accelerator: You want to get in there, don’t you?
Peter Vaughn: If I wasn’t phased out, I’d kick that guy’s ass. In fact, I’m going to look him up once I’m back in the real world and break his leg.
The Accelerator: Nice.
~Without looking back, Vaughn flips his hand towards the ring in an annoyed gesture.~
Peter Vaughn: Again, what’s the point, Ace? Why show me this? It just reminds me how bad things were when I refused to bend any rules. Being a goody-two-shoes just led me to get brutalized.
The Accelerator: Maybe… but you did win some matches, didn’t you? And you remember how loud the crowd cheered when that happened? They were always on your side.
Peter Vaughn: They liked the underdog, because that’s what they always were. Their support did a fat lot of good when I got my ass kicked day in and day out. The only good thing here is that I learned how to come back from a beating stronger than ever.
The Accelerator: You also inspired many fans to enter the business, boyo, including those two kids in the front row. These two…
~As Ace starts towards the boys, apparently going to reveal the identity, Vaughn turns and walks in the opposite direction… back to the elevator. Ace, thrown off, turns and tries to hurry after him.~
The Accelerator: Hold on, boyo, I’m not…
Peter Vaughn: Just give it up, gramps. The world’s had enough of you, and so have I.
~Vaughn gets into the elevator, pressing a couple of the buttons at random.~
Peter Vaughn: Those days there? They’re long gone… and so are you.
~Ace reaches out, but he can’t reach the doors as they’re closing. The elevator starts moving, with Vaughn sitting back with a grin. He’s thrown off-balance, though, as the elevator is suddenly moving… sideways? After some time passes, the elevator shifts again, nearly knocking Vaughn over. As he regains his balance, Vaughn feels the elevator come to a stop. The doors wrench open… ~
Peter Vaughn: Oh, c’mon…
Jonathan Barrows: Hello, Peter. Long time no see.
~The elevator lights go out, showing that the ride is powered down for the time being, so Vaughn steps out into the open space to join Barrows. He stares at the man who made his life a living hell for a time, having tortured him and sent him into a very dark place during his time in OCW.~
Peter Vaughn: Don’t tell me you’re one of the ghosts.
Jonathan Barrows: Me? Nah. I’m still alive and well. I’m a general manager in the XWF, remember?
Peter Vaughn: Right. You’re on Savage… which is why I always would rather wrestle on Warfare.
Jonathan Barrows: Not going to be able to avoid me much longer there, friend. But we’ll deal with that later. For now, I’ve got some visions to show you.
Peter Vaughn: Seriously, can we just skip it? This whole thing is ridiculous. You’re not going to show me anything I haven’t seen before…
~Barrows suddenly raises his hand, snapping his fingers. The whole area warps around them, startling Vaughn, but before he can even lose his balance, everything settles back in… showing us the ring we saw at the beginning of this video. Inside the ring, the referee is pressing some sort of red cloth to the back of Vaughn’s head. If you look close, you can tell that towel used to be white, but Vaughn’s bleeding like a stuck pig.~
Peter Vaughn: Damn… I stand corrected. I’ve never seen anything like this…
~The intangible Vaughn steps over to look at his downed self with wonder. He looks to the side, where security is doing their best to secure the Wildman before he can do any more damage.~
Peter Vaughn: Asshole. Hitting a guy while his back is turned, really brave there…
~The hypocrisy is lost on Vaughn, even as Barrows shakes his head.~
Jonathan Barrows: I’ve seen you looking better, Peter.
Peter Vaughn: Okay, yeah, that kind of stinks, but you know me: I rebound fairly quickly. I’ll do the same here.
Jonathan Barrows: Oh, I’m sure you will. Of course, it’d probably be better if the medics were hurrying to the ring, wouldn’t it? They sure seem to be taking their time.
Peter Vaughn: Damn slackers. Show me some respect!
~Vaughn yells out at the slowly approaching medics, who, of course, can’t hear him. Barrows smiles, nodding in their direction.~
Jonathan Barrows: You know that if it was Kido bleeding away in this ring, they’d be here faster.
Peter Vaughn: So what? If I was a ‘nice guy’, would I get better medical care? Ohhh, what a selling point…
~Vaughn’s sarcasm is obvious, as Barrows shrugs.~
Jonathan Barrows: So how about we check in on what your family and friends are thinking at this moment?
Peter Vaughn: What do you…
~Barrows snaps his fingers again, and we again warp to a new location. It stabilizes inside a small but well kept house. Vaughn glares at Barrows, trying to steady himself.~
Peter Vaughn: That is SO annoying…
~Barrows just points to the side, where Vaughn can see his half-brother, Thomas Hill, watching the livestream on his computer. He’s looking a little concerned.~
Thomas Hill: Hey, Mom! Come in here a second! I think Peter’s hurt…
~The mother walks in, having birthed both Vaughn and Hill in separate families. She peeks at the view, but almost immediately dismisses it.~
Mrs. Hill: Oh, Thomas, you know that stuff’s all prearranged and all. Peter’s perfectly fine. Now, c’mon, you can take me to the hair salon.
Thomas Hill: But… but I…
Mrs. Hill: We’ll stop by the Redbox on the way home and get a movie or two.
Thomas Hill: …. Sure, Ma.
~Thomas closes the laptop and gets up, heading to the door with his mother. Vaughn, aghast, watches them go.~
Peter Vaughn: Wait, hold on! You guys don’t even want to know if I make it??
Jonathan Barrows: Since when have you ever given them a reason to be concerned about you, Peter?
Peter Vaughn: Okay, but… that’s just a fluke. I’m sure some people are watching and worried about me…
Jonathan Barrows: Well, let’s see…
Peter Vaughn: Hold on…
~The finger snap twists them into the offices of Chronic Chris Page Enterprises. We see Chris Page seated at a desk, working the phones, as the live footage plays behind him. He doesn’t seem to be paying it any attention, though, only glancing over briefly before continuing his phone conversation.~
Chris Page: Look, we just need to make sure CCPE Vs. The World is the biggest event to ever air. So get that merchandise finished in time, or so help me, I’ll own you for the rest of your life!
~Page hangs up, then immediately redials. Barrows looks over at Vaughn, who doesn’t know what to say.~
Peter Vaughn: I mean… he’s a busy man…
Jonathan Barrows: Uh huh…
~Barrows quickly raises his hand again, and the snap goes down once more. This time, we find ourselves in what appears to be a bar. Vaughn looks around, then instinctively ducks as a bottle flies towards him. Of course, it would have gone right through him, and he stands up sheepishly a second later.~
Peter Vaughn: Guess instincts don’t matter when you’re intangible. Where are we now?
Jonathan Barrows: This establishment is showing your match live as well, although not many are watching it, as you can see.
~Vaughn peers over to the right, where a wild brawl is still ongoing. Two men go flying backwards, having been KO'ed by strikes from what appears to be a brick. Bam Miller stands over them, laughing, before ducking another assault and tackling the man backwards. Vaughn takes it in, then turns back to Barrows.~
Peter Vaughn: Okay, this one doesn’t count. Bam loves to fight, after all. He’d be watching if he could.
Jonathan Barrows: Sure he would. And I assume the guy back there would be as well?
~Barrows points to the side, where we can see Xavier Lux sitting, chugging back a beer. He laughs, then turns back to the two women in front of him, completely ignoring the screen above the bar.~
Peter Vaughn: He's probably drunk...
Jonathan Barrows: Uh huh...
~We have one more snap, taking us into what appears to be a dark void. Vaughn pushes himself back to his feet, as this was the toughest ride so far.~
Peter Vaughn: If you snap your fingers ONE MORE TIME…
Jonathan Barrows: Just face it, Peter. You’ve been badly injured on live television, and none of your supposed ‘friends’ seem to care. All most of them care about is the paycheck you can help deliver them.
Peter Vaughn: You’re blowing this out of proportion. Sure, it doesn’t look great, but I’ve made a living by showing I can take care of myself. I’m not looking for sympathy from anyone. I don’t NEED anyone. You’ll see, Barrows, you’ll see…
Jonathan Barrows: Well… if that’s how you see it… good luck, Peter…
~Barrows raises up once more.~
Peter Vaughn: Don’t you DARE…
~The fingers snap… and Vaughn warps on his own into an empty theater. He looks around, trying to settle his stomach from the last ride.~
Peter Vaughn: Damn it. I’m going to punch him in the jaw the next time I see him…
~Vaughn straightens up, taking in his location, looking more confused than ever.~
Peter Vaughn: Now where the hell am I?
Voice: I should think that would be obvious…
~Vaughn spins around as a looming spirit slowly comes out of the darkness behind him. The figure towers over Vaughn as it reaches up, pulling its hood slowly back… to reveal Andrew Logan, one of Vaughn’s greatest adversaries.~
Andrew Logan: Welcome to your future, Vaughn.
Peter Vaughn: You son of a…
~Vaughn immediately charges at Logan, throwing a massive hook at Logan’s chin. But Logan seems to flow out of the way, easily avoiding the strike. Vaughn tries again and again, swinging wildly, but Logan, for some reason, can’t be hit. He finally catches Vaughn by the wrist, hanging on and keeping Vaughn from continuing his assault.~
Andrew Logan: That’s not what we’re here for, Vaughn. You know that.
~Logan throws Vaughn to the ground, sending him rolling down the theater path for several rows. Vaughn manages to stop himself and get up, still considering trying a tackle, but he stops himself, breathing heavily.~
Andrew Logan: That’s better. You never were a complete doofus, Vaughn. It’s the reason I always wanted you to join me. Chaos is always more fun in a group, as you well know.
Peter Vaughn: Shut up, Andrew. I’m never joining your cult.
Andrew Logan: That cult is in the past anyway, and again, that’s not what we’re here for. I’m just supposed to show you what the future holds for “The Mechanic”. Would you like to see?
Peter Vaughn: …. Fine. Show me.
~Logan grins evilly, then pulls out of his robe what appears to be some sort of remote. He pushes a couple of buttons and turns the joysticks, adjusting them, then presses the start button. Immediately, the seats all around Logan and Vaughn fill with well-dressed people, all sitting up and taking notice as the person at the podium begins speaking.~
Peter Vaughn: Whoa…
Andrew Logan: C’mon, Mechy, your seats are just ahead.
~Logan grabs hold of Vaughn by the neck, directing him down the aisle forcibly, with Vaughn struggling the whole way. Logan, unstoppable, throws Vaughn into the seat, making him watch as the speech continues.~
Peter Vaughn: Okay, this is Hell. I hate speeches.
Andrew Logan: Just listen for once, Vaughn. It’s important.
~Vaughn grumbles and slouches back in the chair, even as the man at the podium begins to wrap up what he’s saying.~
Man At Podium: … and throughout the years, despite how we all felt about him, this man continued to find ways to win. He’s one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the history of the sport, and no one can argue that he did enough to earn this prestigious honor here tonight. So let’s bring him out now. The newest entry into the Wrestling Hall of Fame… “The Manipulator” Peter Vaughn!!
~The crowd politely claps, but there isn’t much heart in it. Vaughn, in the audience, leans over to Logan with a scowl.~
Peter Vaughn: “The Manipulator”? What the hell is that?
Andrew Logan: What, you didn’t think you’d change your nickname in the future? You used to be called The Janitor, remember?
Peter Vaughn: Yeah, but… the Manipulator? That’s terrible…
Andrew Logan: I agree. You’re an idiot for choosing it.
Peter Vaughn: Bastard…
~Vaughn takes a quick swipe at Logan again, but again, Logan’s ready for it, avoiding it. Meanwhile, on the stage, a weary-looking Peter Vaughn comes out on stage, using a set of crutches to help get him to the mic. He smiles, seeing the gold-plated statue that awaits him, cradling it with one hand for a second before getting straightened up to the mic.~
Future Vaughn: Ladies and gentlemen… as I stand here, I can’t help but feel that this is such a tremendous honor. Sure, it’s one that should have come much earlier. After all, you’ve already inducted Kido, Flynn, Lux, Gloves, and all the rest. But that’s beside the point. I’m here now, and now is all that matters.
~Future Vaughn grins again, unable to take his eyes off the prize that’s sitting in front of him.~
Future Vaughn: When I started out in this business so long ago, I knew that I would eventually end up here. With every World Championship I placed in my possession, I believed that the respect would come my way for my prestigious wrestling talents. This was the final goal in my amazing wrestling career, and I’d like to thank all the members of the voting public who brought me this achievement.
~He nods towards the crowd, as if trying to show them a little gratitude, but it doesn’t come off very well, and there’s only a weak response of claps to the gesture.~
Future Vaughn: I would also like to thank all the people who helped me get here tonight. The Accelerator, for throwing me into this business, god rest his soul. Men like Outcast, Jim Caedus, and Drew Archyle, who helped me immensely by their losses in our World Title matches. To Mark Flynn, who proved himself to be one of the greatest tag-team partners imaginable, even as we turned on each other from week to week. We still kicked everyone’s asses, didn’t we, Mark?
~We can see an older Mark Flynn nodding in agreement in the audience, with the audience members around him looking pleased to be seated next to the well-respected wrestler.~
Future Vaughn: There are so many in this audience that I’ve beaten in one way or another. Thank you all for putting your bodies on the line and agreeing to fight me. I enjoyed every minute of it, even when the results didn’t go my way. To all of those present, thanks for taking the fall.
~This doesn’t go over well in the audience, except for the present-day Vaughn, who gives a cheer that no one can hear. Logan looks on with a smirk, thinking Vaughn’s reaction is pretty funny.~
Future Vaughn: There are so many more I could thank. Chris Page, for channeling my rage. Xavier Lux, for having my back, at least at first. Theo Pryce, for signing me to the XWF so long ago. So many others, too many to thank personally. So let me just say that if you helped get me here? Thanks. This prize is just as much yours as mine… well, not really, but you get the point.
~Future Vaughn reaches out and picks up the statue, cradling it for a moment, as he balances on his crutches.~
Future Vaughn: After all the pain and suffering… after all the Plunges and Purges… it finally happened. I can hardly believe it. Peter Vaughn… Hall of Famer… you guys better believe it!! Yes!!
~The older man raises the statue over his head, which is a dangerous maneuver with crutches. Luckily, there are two younger wrestlers who have joined Vaughn onstage, helping to stabilize him. The audience gives a general applause as Vaughn starts heading for the back, making sure to hang tightly onto the statue. Present-day Vaughn is on his feet, the only member of the standing ovation. Beside him, Logan gets out his remote again, pressing a button, and every audience member except for the two of them freezes in place. Vaughn looks around at them, before turning back to Logan with a big smile on his face.~
Peter Vaughn: So what’s the point of showing me this? You’re basically telling me that, in the future, I’m going to get everything I ever wanted. THIS is supposed to inspire me to change? Hah! This was great!!
Andrew Logan: It certainly seems that way, doesn’t it? After all, you always wanted to be a Hall of Famer. You blew it in OCW, XWF seemed unlikely, the other feds closed one by one… but you finally found one willing to induct you, didn’t you?
Peter Vaughn: Hey, it counts! From this point forward, my man can put that right after his name on everything he owns. Every autograph just went up in value, too!
Andrew Logan: All true.
Peter Vaughn: So again… why show this to me? I don’t get it.
Andrew Logan: Well, because there are always two sides, aren’t there? Shall we flip this around and see?
~With that, Logan presses a few more buttons, and the whole world seems to go topsy-turvy. When things settle, Vaughn gets up on his knees and looks around. They appear to be back at the PMV Ranch, the property Vaughn bought in 2022 to be his grandest home ever. The place doesn’t look quite like it used to, however.~
Peter Vaughn: Damn. What the hell happened here? Another fire? The place looks almost… abandoned…
Andrew Logan: Oh, a large portion of it has been. There is no more ranch work done here. No farming, either. It’s just simply a homestead at this point. A very lonely homestead, really, considering that you’ve chased off practically anyone who would work here.
Peter Vaughn: I chased them off? Wait, even Thomas?
Andrew Logan: The guy had to find a life eventually, didn’t he?
Peter Vaughn: Huh. Honestly, I wouldn’t have thought so. Good for Thomas. So, what, no one lives here anymore?
Andrew Logan: Oh, just one person…
~Logan gestures at the front porch of the ranch house. Vaughn walks over that direction, taking in the sole individual sitting in a rocking chair, still hanging tightly onto the statue he was given recently. We can see that it’s Peter Vaughn, all alone, left to his own devices as he sits there quietly, studying the statue.~
Peter Vaughn: So… nobody came out to do an after-party or anything? Nobody wanted to celebrate this huge achievement?
Andrew Logan: Who would? You ended up betraying most of them over the years, didn’t you? No, Peter… you’re where your path was always going to take you… on an island of separation from the rest of your peers.
Peter Vaughn: Huh… I never really cared too much to be around crowds… but this…
~Vaughn looks thoughtful, even as we see the future Vaughn suddenly decides to get up. He’s still hanging onto the statue as he limps over to the liquor cabinet, popping it open and grabbing a bottle. He starts to turn towards the glasses, when suddenly, he freezes up. The bottle falls, shattering on the ground, as Future Vaughn clutches at his chest. He slowly slumps over to the ground, the statue toppling over onto its side. Present-Day Vaughn hurries over to him, but of course, there’s nothing he can do.~
Peter Vaughn: Damn it! This can’t be it, can it?
Andrew Logan: You see now what comes from a life of solitude and betrayals, don’t you, Vaughn? This is what happens…
~Future Vaughn squints through pain-filled eyes towards the statue, slowly reaching out one shaking hand towards it. He can’t quite get there, as the hand falls short, lifeless, to the ground. As the body lies there, Vaughn gets back to his feet, a little shaky himself.~
Peter Vaughn: So… I don’t get to enjoy it… not even for a little while…
Andrew Logan: Is that all you’re getting from this, Vaughn? Look at the bigger picture for once. If you continue to act the way you do, behave the way you are, this is your future. You’ve got a lot of work to do if you want to avoid this…
~Vaughn stares down at his own lifeless body, then nods his head a few times.~
Peter Vaughn: You’re right, Logan. You’ve shown me what I need to do. I appreciate it.
Andrew Logan: So you’re going to start treating your fellow wrestlers better in the future? Being a better human being?
Peter Vaughn: … Are you high? I’m simply going to remember to invest in LifeAlert. That’ll give me a button I can press, and they’ll come rescue me when this happens. I’ll live on for sure.
Andrew Logan: … That’s insane!! That’s not the lesson at all!! Now you listen here, Vaughn, and listen good!!
~Logan grabs hold of Vaughn’s shoulders, spinning him around… but this is apparently exactly what Vaughn had been waiting for. He snaps his arms up, grabbing hold of Logan, and immediately twists him around, dropping him with the Keyholder!!! Logan, holding his head, struggles to get up, but Vaughn is waiting for him, landing a spiritually-charged version of the Revenged!!! Logan’s out, as out as a spirit can be, at least, as Vaughn gets to his feet and stares down at him. He reaches into Logan’s pocket, feeling around, and eventually pulls out the remote controller. He studies it for a second, before looking down at Logan and giving him a kick in the side.~
Peter Vaughn: Game over, jerk.
~Vaughn then presses the appropriate buttons, and the whole world seems to dissolve all around him into a bright light…~
~Achingly, Vaughn manages to open his eyes. He painfully looks around, taking in the fact that he's laying inside an ambulance that's clearly in motion. The medic, seated nearby, glances over his direction. Seeing Vaughn starting to stir, the medic comes over to check on him.~
Medic: Sir! Glad to see you waking up. You took one hell of a hit. We’re taking you to the hospital now, and I guarantee you’ll get the best treatment. Just answer a few questions for me… how many fingers am I holding up?
~The medic raises his hand with two fingers, with Vaughn peering at them for a few seconds.~
Peter Vaughn: …. Two…
Medic: That’s right. Now… can you tell me what year it is?
~Vaughn looks a little more confused at this question, trying to think through what year it was before he started jumping all around the timestream.~
Peter Vaughn: … Ummm…. 20… 2022…
Medic: Very good. And can you tell me your name?
~With that question, a small smile appears on Vaughn’s face, with his hand moving as if cradling something to his chest.~
Peter Vaughn: My name… is Peter Vaughn…. Wrestling Hall of Famer…
~Vaughn leans his head backwards into the pillow, closing his eyes, as he continues to smile. The medic, apparently only caring about the name, works to adjust Vaughn’s IV, even as the ambulance continues on its way to the hospital. We slowly fade out.~