Post by Peter Vaughn on Oct 31, 2022 17:52:45 GMT -5
The Road So Far:
A New Day, A New Hire
Blood Red In Tooth & Claw
The Most Honorable Peter Vaughn (WGWF)
Peter Vaughn's vision has been divided in multiple directions over the past few months. He's been dealing with the underground war between the Custodial Coalition and the Maintenance Mafia. He's been renewing acquaintances with his old enemy, Andrew Logan. And he's been stretching himself to new heights in the acting world, competing in the World Series of Wrestling and getting cast in shows like Inhalation.
Throughout it all, he's had one sanctuary to get away from all that: his new ranch.
In recent months, Vaughn has been spending more and more time on the PMV ranch, getting the buildings constructed and now working to make it into an honest-to-god business. He's hired new employees to help with that, full-time workers who could handle the load while he's out on the road, still earning the funds needed to get the business off the ground.
The only problem was, at least two of the new employees aren't who they seem.
What secrets are Sadie and Leon hiding? What effect will this have on Vaughn's ranch? And will everything change... tonight?
October 1st, 2003
~The match flares into existence, the flame dancing on the tip like some unrestrained creature. It spins and twirls in the close-up, showing that it never really does stand still, no matter what one thinks. The camera slowly zooms out to show the face of a young Peter Vaughn as he stares at the match, fascinated by it.~
Peter: Wow... it's so.... ow!
~Peter suddenly throws the match back and forth, putting it out, as it was starting to burn his fingers. He rubs his injured finger, his grin diminished. Behind him, we can hear laughter as his father steps into the picture.~
Father: Hah hah hah!! I told you, son, you have to respect the flame!
Peter: I know, but I thought matches were supposed to last longer!
~Peter blows on his finger, and his father steps in, rubbing the injury. There's something about a father's touch that can help the pain go away.~
Father: I'm sorry, Peter. These matches are pretty cheap, I'm afraid. They burn pretty fast... whenever they actually ignite, that is. Look, just show your respect a little faster this time. The boiler is waiting for you.
~Peter nods, determined to come through for his father. He steps closer to the open door in front of him and gets another match, striking it. After three swipes, it becomes clear that this match isn't going to light, so Peter gets a third match, not giving up. He strikes it... and it immediately ignites. Peter uses the second match along with it, adding to the flame, before leaning forward, squinting into the darkness in front.~
Father: Careful now. It will light pretty quick.
~The flame gets inside the doorway, with Peter trying to keep his hand steady as he puts it further inside. After a moment, a blue flame suddenly erupts into view, as the pilot light catches on. Peter brings his hand back quickly, putting out the matches, as his father shuts the door. He turns a few knobs, grunting in satisfaction.~
Father: That ought to stop them from complaining. Thanks, Peter. You did good. Now whenever this happens again, you'll know how to fix it.
Peter: Thanks for showing me. It really wasn't as scary as I thought it'd be.
Father: Well, now, as long as the equipment is functioning as expected, you shouldn't worry about it. But a little respect never hurts, Peter. When it comes to setting something on fire, even something like this, you always need to make sure to be careful. One mistake could be... catastrophic.
~Peter nods, understanding. He glances back at the boiler, which is now making a slightly sinister sound. Peter involuntarily takes a step back, with his father, grinning, putting a hand on his shoulder.~
Father: Tell you what, after getting that fixed, I'd say we've earned a break. Should we go get some ice cream from across the street?
~Peter's eyes light up. What young man wouldn't be happy about such a thing?~
Peter: Sure! Let's go!
~Peter's father smiles tenderly, ruffling his son's hair, before turning and gathering up his tools. Behind him, Peter can't help but stare at the boiler again, noticing the changing colors as the flame continues to burn inside, flickering back and forth... ~
October 22nd, 2022
~The spark seems to be resonating in Vaughn's eyes as he drives, speeding up the highway towards the PMV Ranch. Beside him, his half-brother, Thomas, in anxiously squirming in his seat, staring out the windows.~
Thomas: Are you sure that's what they said? You didn't mishear them?
Peter: All I know is, they said that we needed to hurry back... because the ranch was on fire.
Thomas: But... but how? And why now? Do you think... it was Andrew?
Peter: He said it wasn't... but I wouldn't put it past him. None of that matters right now, though. We just need to get there... and see...
~Vaughn pushes the truck into another gear, going faster. He's not worried about a speeding ticket at this point. Hell, he'd probably welcome bringing the officer with him to his sanctuary, his pride and joy... his ranch. Both men hang on as Vaughn makes a tight turn, getting closer to his property. Both can see the unnatural, glowing light in the distance as it gets closer.~
Sometimes things just start getting out of your control. If you're not careful, they can overwhelm you.
For instance, Drake, let's talk about you and how you thought a show of strength would be enough to keep me away from Triforce Heroes. You really thought, somewhere in that dim light bulb of a brain, that throwing me through a table would cause me to run home and hide under my bed? I mean, I get that we haven't hung around each other or anything, but you should have known the last thing you do to someone like me is... peak my interest.
That's what led to the escalation on the last show. And I know, some said I might have taken things a little too far by electrocuting you and all, but I figure if I answered by putting YOU through a table, it just wouldn't be creative enough, would it? Plus, I mean, you're a heavy son of a bitch, and I prefer not to throw my spine out.
Have you enjoyed my other presents? I'm sure you've noticed all the little things that have been happening in your travels. Maybe your electric key suddenly no longer works, forcing you to have to go down to the desk to get a new one. Maybe your refrigerator is malfunctioning, or your microwave will only flash 12:00 without allowing you to reset it. Maybe you've noticed a strange smell that might be coming from behind the bed... or maybe it's the sheets themselves.
Or maybe, just maybe, I haven't had my boyos do anything to your hotel rooms, and it's all been in your head since then. Wouldn't that be fun?
I guess we'll never know...
All that really matters, Dramamine, is that you achieved a goal you never should have been seeking. You got me to focus on you and the rest of the Game Changers. You made yourselves my target.
How's that working out for you so far?
October 22nd, 2022
~As the truck pulls up in front of the ranch house, Thomas leans out the window with excitement.~
Thomas: It hasn't gotten here after all!
~The ranch house seems untouched, looking as it has since Vaughn first had it renovated. The guest house and bunk house both, also, appear to be unscathed. Thomas gets out of the truck, staring around, as if expecting flames to burst through the windows at any time. Vaughn, though, is looking backwards, shaking his head.~
Peter: You mean it hasn't gotten here... yet...
~Thomas turns to join his half-brother, as he winces at the sight of the bright glow coming from right over the rise to the north. Vaughn shakes his head, then moves into gear, heading down towards the animal pens. Thomas, with no clue what to do in this kind of situation, follows behind. They come up to find Leon corralling the pigs into smaller bins, while Sadie is locking down the chicken coop. She turns, with Thomas unable to stop a smile coming to his face. Even in a dangerous situation, she still finds a way to look stunning. As usual, Vaughn doesn't seem to notice.~
Peter: Give me an update, people, now!
Leon: The fire seems to have started about an hour or two ago. I first noticed it when I was out riding, checking on our fence posts for any signs of a break. I rode back with the news as quickly as I could.
Peter: And you, Sadie? Where were you?
Sadie: I was working on the water reclamation project we talked about, trying to find a way to start getting water again in one of the old wells. By the time Leon got her, I already saw the flames and started evacuations of the staff.
Peter: It doesn't seem like a natural fire, does it?
Sadie: Moving this fast and spread out? No, I'd say it had to have been set by someone. But who would want to destroy this ranch?
~Sadie looks away as she says this, focusing on the oncoming inferno. Lucas lowers his head, hiding his eyes. Vaughn shakes his head, sighing.~
Peter: What about the county's volunteer fire department? Are they on their way?
Leon: I, ummm, I already gave them a call. Got their voice mail.
Peter: Their WHAT?
Leon: Apparently they were all called out of the county for a mandatory training session in Ft. Worth. They took everything with them, as well.
Peter: In other words... this whole thing was pretty well orchestrated, wasn't it? Perfect timing and all that...
~All Lucas can do is shrug, while Sadie spits on the ground. Vaughn doesn't seem to notice either of them. He's already deep into his planning persona, going through strategies one by one to decide what he should do next. Vaughn is rarely a man caught without a battle plan of some sort. After a few seconds, he nods, coming to a decision.~
Peter: Okay, here's what we're going to do. Sadie, I need you to get the horses loaded into the trailer. We need to get them out first, they're no good to us in a fire.
Sadie: We've already got them loaded, boss. They're ready to transport. We can't do much with the rest of the livestock, though.
Peter: Worst case, we'll set them free and give them a chance, and maybe pick them up later. For now, I'm going to need you... Thomas.
~Thomas, who has been half-listening to everything while staring towards what's coming, suddenly shudders and looks up at Vaughn, confused.~
Thomas: M... me?
Peter: That's right, brother. I need you.
~You don't hear this often from Vaughn, so it's definitely an attention-grabber. Thomas steps closer to Vaughn, who puts an arm on him, looking him in the eyes.~
Peter: Lucas is going to get the trailer hooked to the truck, and you're going to drive it out of here. Head back towards Dallas for now, it's away from the blaze. That's probably intentional. I'm counting on you to get these horses out of harm's way, okay, Thomas?
~Thomas slowly nods, swallowing as he does so.~
Thomas: Sure, Peter. I can do that.
~Lucas pounds Thomas on the back, then pulls him along as they run for the truck. Sadie can't help but smile, which catches Vaughn's attention.~
Peter: What's there to smile about right now?
Sadie: Just that it's clear you DO care about your brother. You're giving him a job that'll take him out of danger. Very smart, boss.
Peter: I just want to not have to replace horses at the end of this, that's all. Besides, Thomas would probably drive into the fire accidentally if I didn't get him out of here.
Sadie: Whatever you say, boss.
Peter: And stop calling me boss.
~Vaughn pulls out a small key ring, tossing it to Sadie, who deftly catches it with one hand.~
Peter: Go and unlock the barn. I've got a couple of ideas left to try, and I'm going to need Big Bertha for one of them.
Sadie: Big... Bertha?
Peter: Just unlock it, damn it!
~Sadie shrugs and runs for the barn, even as Vaughn pulls out his cell phone. He looks relieved at having a signal, quickly dialing a number.~
Peter: Hello, Mayor Johnson? Peter Vaughn here. I know we just talked earlier tonight, but I'm afraid I'm in a bit of a pickle, and it could end up concerning the city of Dallas as well...
~Vaughn starts to explain the situation as he heads for the barn, even as we see Lucas and Thomas driving by with the truck. Lucas seems to be staring over towards the barn as he passes.~
You'll never survive long in this business if you can't come up with a new strategy in a short amount of time. Sometimes, you have to reorganize everything once you've been punched in the mouth.
I wonder, with the hits I've given you recently, will you be changing your strategy?
Something tells me that's going to be hard to ask from a guy like you. Being a 7 foot giant has always made your strategy rather one-dimensional, hasn't it? Grab hold of your opponent and crush them before they can get away.
I mean, it's worked for a hell of a lot of big men in the sport, I can't deny that.
You ever hear of a guy named Supreme Machine? That was pretty much his entire game as well, using all his strength and power to try to utterly obliterate his opponent. He never could adjust against a wrestling style like mine, though, the hit-and-run-and-hit-some-more attack. I ended up beating Supreme Machine multiple times, including in a match that should have 'favored' him. He does remind me some of you, Willycox.
Okay, you seem to be a lot more sane, so that's a plus to you. But you guys fought in similar patterns.
You seek intimidation and destruction. Both admirable goals to strive for, but neither is likely to be very successful against a fast mover like myself, one who will have multiple game plans to cut you down to size. I'll be looking to dislocate a knee or two, removing any chance of you staying on your feet against me. I'll be looking for the chance to dislocate your shoulder against the ring post, since you're sure to stride into that location at some point. This will make sure you can't lift me.
In the end, as you're laying there on your back, staring up at the lights above, you'll probably be wondering how it all came down to this. How you could have let me utterly destroy you move after calculated move, leaving you helpless on the canvas as I come flying in with the Plunge.
And it's easily answered. I wasn't intimidated, and I can never be destroyed.
I'm the Mechanic, you son of a bitch, and you can damn well be sure that I'm changing the game once again.
October 22nd, 2022
~As Sadie stands in front of the barn, she stares at the flames, which appear to be getting closer. The pigs are now crying out, realizing that something is wrong, but currently having nowhere to go. She looks over at them, debating whether to open their enclosure, when a large roar erupts behind her. She staggers forward, instinctively getting out of the way. Bright lights come on from the barn, getting brighter as something comes forward... ~
Sadie: What on EARTH??
~As Sadie moves further away, Vaughn bursts out of the barn, riding his completely customized tractor rig. It looks like Vaughn has been adding various parts to the machine, making it more of a Frankenstein's Monster than a John Deere at this point. For one thing, it's got what appears to be a tilling attachment placed on the front, which can be interchanged with a large plow. Vaughn drives the tractor around, which is running at a decent speed considering the extra weight added. He points it off towards the fire, while looking back at Sadie.~
Peter: Do what you have to do for the animals, Sadie. I'm going to see what kind of back line I can set up. You know, I've always wanted to fight a natural disaster....
~There's a glimmer in Vaughn's eyes, showing that he truly means it. This is a fight that he's going to enjoy, even if the odds are stacked against him.~
Sadie: B... Peter. It's just land. We can rebuild!
Peter: Uh huh. Maybe we will someday. For now, just do what I tell you, Sadie. Goodbye.
~Vaughn revs the engine, which has clearly been replaced along with much of the rest of the tractor, and takes off, cutting a path towards the inferno. Sadie shakes her head, upset at Vaughn taking such a risk, but she doesn't seem to have any other options. She gets on her own phone, making a call, as she runs off. Meanwhile, we follow Vaughn, as he begins to cut a large swath of land in-between the fire and the ranch area. He's really tearing up the ground, but it remains to be seen if any of this will be enough, as the fire has begun to appear over the edge, flickering closer and closer... ~
I truly do love a good gamble. Nothing like feeling that adrenaline burst that comes from the fact that you may have just made a colossal mistake.
I have to admit, I haven't really relied on gambling that much in Level Up. I've tended to sit back and watch, coordinating my strategy while keeping everything moving slow. Some might say it's worked for me, allowing me to get more of a foundation set up here before I've exploded into the stratosphere.
For me, though, I'm beginning to wonder if that time hasn't passed.
I've sat back with the Game Genie, biding my time so well that many people have probably forgotten the threat that I bring to the table. I think you're one of those, Drackie. I think you truly believe that I won't have the fire, and that you can just walk right over me and earn that Wisdom Title opportunity. But you know what? I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of being the patient one.
Yes, you know what? I think my time starts now.
So I'll be taking that Wisdom Title #1 Contendership from you, brutally breaking down a giant until he topples across the land, a sign to all that the Mechanic is finally going to go full-steam forward in Level Up. After that, I'll be taking that Wisdom Title, adding it to my impressive collection for the year, showing the members of this federation that this is now my favorite playpen to compete in.
After that, maybe I'll be cashing in this Game Genie and finally making my way to the top of Level Up. It'd be rather sensational, wouldn't it? Sealing two championships in a short amount of time, locking down my marvelous name here in the glorious history of the fed?
And you know, it's all going to start with the slaughter of a Wilcox. Sounds about right.
This Plunge... is only going to be the beginning, Drake. See you soon.
October 22nd, 2022
~The air is thick and smoky, making it hard to see too far in front. Vaughn can barely be seen on his tractor, continuing to plow up the ground as he tries to watch out for any surprise drop-offs ahead. He's in the thick of it now, with his face covered with what appears to be a custom-made gas mask. Vaughn continues to be a builder, even when he doesn't need to, as buying a mask probably would have been easier and better than what he's wearing. Vaughn's the type to want to do it himself, though, and it at least seems to be working, as he continues onwards, grinding up plants and rocks on his way. It's impossible to tell if he's making any progress, though.~
Voice: Help...
~Vaughn hesitates on the tractor, looking around for a moment. Obviously, the vehicle makes a lot of noise, and Vaughn had no interest in building in a custom muffler. He shakes his head, thinking he's hearing things.~
Voice: Help! Help!!
~Vaughn raises up on the tractor, searching around him, even though it's nearly impossible to see anything. Taking a huge risk, he turns off the tractor, hoping he can get it started again. As the sound dies down, the voice gets clearer.~
Voice: Please! Help me!!
~Vaughn follows the sound of the voice, hopping off the tractor and moving deeper into the smoke. He soon stumbles over a man trapped under a dead branch, unable to get himself free. He looks exhausted, barely able to keep breathing in such a bad environment.~
Peter: What are you doing out here??
Man: Please! Get me... out of here...
~The man coughs, gasping for air. Vaughn just stares at him for a few more seconds.~
Peter: So... you're the one who set this fire? Take a wrong turn after trying to escape? I should really just let you fry in here. You could be the first ghost that haunts my ranch. That's a special honor, isn't it?
Man: Noooo.... please...
Peter: Yeah, I've got to keep working here, 'friend'. Good luck to you.
~Vaughn turns, thinking for a second, making sure he goes in the right direction back towards the tractor. It wouldn't do to get lost now.~
Man: Wait... waaiiiittt.... I can tell you... who sent me... who told me... what to do...
~Vaughn has already disappeared into the smoke by this point, as the man agonizingly tries to take another breath. He starts to weep... but his eyes go wide when the sound of a chainsaw breaks through the fire! Vaughn steps back into view, raising the chainsaw over his head and bringing it down.~
Man: NOOOOOOOO!!!!!
~The chainsaw hits right on the branch, cutting through it cleanly, avoiding the man entirely. Vaughn kicks the piece away, then moves off the other one, freeing the man. He raises up the chainsaw, shutting it off.~
Peter: Alright, c'mon, you sack of.... oh, you've got to be kidding me.
~The man has apparently passed out, Vaughn angrily yanks him up, dragging him towards the tractor. He looks pissed at having to leave his chainsaw behind, but sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do. As they reach the tractor, the flames and smoke seem to be intensifying, as Vaughn is feeling it even through his mask. He shoves the man onto the tractor, even as we hear a new noise enter into the mix. Vaughn looks up, a small smile on his face seen through the mask.~
Peter: Mayor... I'm so glad Thomas talked me into donating to you...
~A plane flies through, dropping a load of fire retardant across the field. Thankfully, it misses where Vaughn is, at least for now. He starts to drive the tractor back towards the ranch, driving by feel. It also helps that he can now see flying lights from a half dozen fire trucks that have come from Dallas to help put out the blaze.~
Peter: Nice to see you boys...
~We watch as a time lapse seems to take place around the smoke and flames, as they soon diminish and disappear, leaving behind burnt, soggy land. None of it seems to have gotten past Vaughn's make-shift barricade, although it wouldn't have worked without the help of the Dallas fire department. We see Vaughn standing nearby, drinking some water to help his throat. Apparently his home-made gas mask wasn't full-proof after all, but that's okay. It did the job. A man walks up to Vaughn, dusting himself off.~
Fire Chief: Mr. Vaughn? We've got about 65% contained, and it shouldn't take too much longer to shut down the other side. Thankfully, we've had some rain as of late.
Peter: So hopefully that guy I handed over can tell you more. There was no reason for him to be on my property.
Fire Chief: I know he was taken back into the city to get aid. Once he's conscious, maybe we'll know more. Until then, your ranch should be safe. Just don't expect us to come all the way out here again if something else happens.
Peter: I understand, Chief. Thank you.
Fire Chief: Don't thank me. Thank the mayor.
Peter: I will, probably for some time to come. Goodbye, Chief.
~The chief walks off, as Thomas makes his way over to his half-brother.~
Thomas: Hey, brother. I brought the horses back, but I couldn't find either Sadie or Leon. Are they around?
Peter: I don't know, Thomas. Maybe. Let's get them unloaded.
~Peter walks off, leaving Thomas confusedly following him. We slowly fade out.~