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Peter Vaughn · (05-27-2022)

The Road So Far:

Journeying Through The Force, P1

Journeying Through The Force, P2

Journeying Through The Force, P3

Dealing With Our Reality, P1

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The life of our favorite Mechanic has turned into a Tale of Two Vaughns lately.

In one (virtual) reality, Peter Vaughn has found himself detached from his body, left as a Force ghost after he was cut down during a disastrous trip through a Star Wars VR experience. Vaughn has had to battle against the system itself, which sees Vaughn as a foreign invader that must be removed to keep the system running smoothly. The bots in charge of security have continued to increase their efforts to delete Vaughn, who has found a way to fight back using the laws of the Star Wars universe. One of those moves, a Force yell, was so powerful as to attract the attention of the Master Cleaner, who has begun a search for the anomaly.

In our reality, Peter Vaughn seemingly disconnected smoothly from the VR unit after the recent Star Wars event. He has been living his life in an apparently happier manner, including offering up himself for volunteer work, cleaning off graffiti from various bridges and walls in town. This both impressed and concerned the Head Custodian, who couldn't help but notice the changes Vaughn was demonstrating. He tried to get Vaughn to return to the headquarters of the Custodial Coalition for testing, only for Vaughn to shockingly knock him out and throw him into his truck. Vaughn then followed commands built into him, taking the unconscious Head Custodian to his apparent leader: the Specialist.

Neither reality is sounding especially promising right now for Mr. Vaughn. We'll have to see if things find a way to improve... or else I might be out of a job. And that would suck.

*Thunk Thunk*

~As the bumps hit, the Head Custodian suddenly comes to. We get a close-up of his face as he looks around groggily, trying to figure out what's going on. He starts to try to get up, only belatedly realizing that his arms are tied up behind him. He slowly leans himself over, sitting up, allowing him to register that he is, in fact, inside a van of some sort. The windows are tinted, keeping both the Head Custodian seeing out and anyone else seeing in. He shakes his head to try and clear it, only to immediately regret it due to the headache he feels. He winces, groaning slightly under his breath.~

Voice: I am sorry your head hurts. I wish I did not have to do what I did.

~The Head Custodian's eyes open wider as he turns, for the first time noticing that Peter Vaughn is sitting nearby. He's watching the tied-up man with a touch of concern on his face, but he's making no moves to untie him. It takes a moment, but the Head Custodian does finally remember what happened.~

Head Custodian: You... you knocked me out, Peter. What... why...

Peter Vaughn: I truly am sorry. But I had to follow the protocols that I had been given.

Head Custodian: Protocols? I don't understand...

Peter Vaughn: If someone has discovered me, I was ordered to bring that person in immediately. Do not worry. I hit you in such a way that there will be no lasting effects. You are essentially undamaged. Still, I am sorry for what happened.

Head Custodian: You already said that... wait... this is so confusing... is this because of what happened in VR?

~Vaughn seems to think about it for a minute, before nodding.~

Peter Vaughn: Although I would have to widen the parameters, you're basically correct, HC.

~Vaughn then puts a large smile on his face, which really doesn't fit the situation... or Vaughn's face. The Head Custodian obviously knows, at this point, that something is terribly wrong here.~

Head Custodian: Peter... you need to take a moment and come to your senses. Whatever happened... we can repair it. We can fix this. You just need... to let me help you. You're too important...

Peter Vaughn: Interesting. I wonder why you see me as so important, HC? Well, it doesn't matter. There's nothing I can do, I'm afraid. You see, I'm not the man I used to be. I have to follow orders.

~The Head Custodian looks questioningly at Vaughn, wondering what that means, as the dim light that was coming through the tinted windows suddenly gets even darker. It's clear we've driven inside somewhere. The van parks and the engine cuts off, leaving the Head Custodian waiting impatiently for whoever it is to come around to the back doors. They open... and the Head Custodian gives out a gasp.~

Head Custodian: You!

Specialist: Why, yes, it's me. Me, me, me.

~The Specialist grins, then looks around for a second, almost as if expecting someone else to pop up. When nobody does, he shrugs and turns back to the duo.~

Specialist: Peter, go ahead and bring this man out of the van. I'd like to show him the end of the line. He he he...

~Vaughn obediently grabs hold of the Head Custodian, dragging him roughly to the edge of the van and carrying him out. He puts the Head Custodian down on the concrete, allowing him to look around at the strange warehouse they've ended up in. There appear to be electrical wires crisscrossing everywhere, leading to multiple rooms. The lights above are fluctuating, possibly from the massive transfer of power that appears to be constantly going on. The Specialist appears to enjoy the Head Custodian's speechless expression, raising his arms in pleasure towards his construction of technology.~

Specialist: As you can see, my friend, I have done a great deal of work in this particular warehouse. This is where I live and thrive. This is where I can communicate with the entire world! So many programs, running so many lines of code... isn't it beautiful? Isn't is spectacular?

Head Custodian: What... what have you done, Specialist? What did you do to Peter??

~The Specialist pats Vaughn on the shoulder, causing him to drop to a kneeling position. He turns back to the Head Custodian, still with a jovial, carefree smile on his face.~

Specialist: Oh, I'm afraid your Peter Vaughn is quite dead.

~The Specialist cackles to himself, enjoying the joke, as the Head Custodian looks on at the kneeling Vaughn with horror.~

~Actually, reports of Peter Vaughn's dead are greatly exaggerated... at least for now.~

~The camera now shows us a snowy mountaintop, with powder as pure as the most naïve virgin. Suddenly, a man appears, sliding right past the camera, moving at a high-rate of speed. Behind him, laser blasts shower the landscape, as a series of bots fly after him. The camera zooms out, showing Peter Vaughn flying down the mountain, keeping up his momentum with both balance and control. He appears to be riding some sort of Force snowboard, as nothing can physically be seen beneath him as he continues his reckless pace to stay ahead of the VR bots. He dodges past a large rock cropping, avoiding certain disaster. The bots promptly blow the cropping to pieces.~

Peter Vaughn: You missed again, buffoons! Darth Vader would be very disappointed in you!

~Vaughn lets out a strained laugh, although he's been keeping up this war with the bots for an extremely long amount of time. The wear and tear on him is beginning to show. But Vaughn is still refusing to give up. He will not stop, because stopping almost certainly means being deleted from the VR system. Obviously, this is not an outcome he's willing to let happen. He flies over another small cliff, falling about 20 feet before managing to keep his 'board' underneath him and continue moving. The bots, flying behind him, have no problems with the fall... but one of them still smashes into the wall, thanks to a nudge from Vaughn's Force powers. As before, though, the bots keep coming, no matter how many are destroyed.~

Peter Vaughn: Y'all ready to call this a draw yet? I'm man enough if you are...

~Two bots appear in front of Vaughn, hovering in the air to arrange a perfect kill trap with their lasers. But Vaughn reacts instantly, throwing a blast of Force Lightning that knocks one of the bots into the other, causing an explosion that Vaughn jumps through. Being a Force Ghost as he is, it does him zero harm. He lands on the other side, as the bots again try to close in from behind. The ground begins to even out, showing that they've cleared another mountain, but Vaughn keeps moving, perhaps propelled by the Force itself.~

Bot: Unknown program continues to exist despite current efforts. Larger assemblies needed to confront and erase task. Processing...

Peter Vaughn: 'Larger assemblies', huh? The bigger you are, the easier it'll be to rip you to shreds, you stupid... oh crap!!

~Vaughn suddenly changes his trajectory, veering to the left, as a large construct appears right in front of him. The guns begin firing, showering the ground around him as he desperately avoids them, bringing up a Force Shield to knock away some of the bolts. He looks up, and up, and even further up, at the All Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT) Walker that now stands before him.~

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Peter Vaughn: And me without a T-47 Snowspeeder... damn. But you think this is going to stop me? Not a chance! If I have to shred all of these with my bare hands, then so be it! I'm never going to stop destroying you bot bastards!

~Vaughn shifts his weight once again, flying towards one of the legs of the AT-AT, probably wishing he could have held his lightsaber earlier. He lashes out with Lightning once more, as we cut away.~

The fight's always got to continue eh, Mac? Even going from one match to the next, the battles just go on and on, don't they? Especially for guys like you.

Now, I didn't mean to imply that you're that old in our last chit-chat. I mean, you're only, what, 46? That's a very respectable wrestling age. Guys even older than you are still in the game, after all. They aren't exactly successful, but they're still around. So chin up! You haven't reached your decline yet, which is absolutely awesome! I'm just saying that the longer you're in the wrestling business, the more a toll it seems to take on your joints and your bones. What used to be something you could bounce back from with no effort is now something that might put you on the shelf for a few weeks.

Personally, I feel lucky that I'm in as good a shape as I am at age 30. I don't have the real wear & tear that some wrestlers are already carrying at my age, thanks to my less-than-stellar beginnings in the business. It really has me just entering my prime, looking at the future with bright eyes. I mean, even with all my recent gains, Mac, I'm still just beginning on the path to stardom. While you...

Look, I'm going to be completely honest with you right now. You said you don't think you've made your mark in the wrestling business yet. Well, I'm here to say... I disagree wholeheartedly.

I can speak for thousands of wrestling fans like myself who grew up, seeing you wrestling in various organizations, putting your body on the line to give us the greatest matches we could ever see. You've been an incredible inspiration to so many in the business. I mean, not me, I basically got dragged into being a wrestler, so I can't rightfully claim anyone inspired me like that. But I'm sure there are more than a few who would claim you as the reason they're getting struck in the head and groin every night, grinding away at the business, trying to get higher up the ladder. So give yourself the respect you deserve, as one of the best wrestlers in the world today.

That's why I want you on my list.

And I'm not talking about the main list, either, although you'll go on there as well. I'm talking about the list within the list. Sort of an inception variation of lists. It's the members of my list that I hold in the highest regard. The men who I've beaten who I see as my greatest victories. Men like Knox, who, no matter what else he ever does in his career, will still have to live with the fact that I defeated him within the rules of the contest we agreed to. Men like Supreme Machine, who nobody thought I would survive twice, yet here I am.

Men like you, Mac. You're one of the great names in the wrestling business. Defeating you and adding you to the list? It will be legendary.

And hey... since you had a problem with the way I defeated Knox, I should let you know... there are no rules in a Ladder match to prevent outside interference, are there?

Just kidding. Who am I going to bring out, Xavier Lux, just because he has a grudge against you and can kick ass? Bring Bam Miller out with one of his bricks, since he owes me for my help with Adam the Monster? All the other Ex-Exiles floating around out there, maybe? Nah, Mac. Don't even worry about it. It'll just be me, you, and a ladder for two... until it's just a ladder for me, sending you on your Plunge.

Oh, your name is going to look so amazing when it gets officially locked in.

~The Head Custodian, now tied onto a rolling computer chair, is sent gliding into a new room. This one appears to be a server room, with several cabinets lined up side by side with plenty of blinking lights. The Head Custodian stops when he bumps into one, ending his momentum. Peter Vaughn walks in after him, followed by the Specialist, who turns and opens one of the cabinets. He happily starts typing away at a screen hidden inside, triggering a command that does... well, who knows exactly what it does, besides the Specialist himself? He nods, getting the result he expected, then turns and looks back at Vaughn and the Head Custodian, who have both been waiting for him to say something.~

Specialist: Oh, you're both still here?

Head Custodian: Where the hell else would I be? You kidnapped me, remember??

Specialist: Ah, technically Mr. Vaughn kidnapped you. It's an interesting decision how he did it, actually. I'll have to look into that one, see if there's something I can correct in the future, oh yes... maybe do a transfer of 22% logic? Hmmm, maybe, maybe...

~The Specialist is staring at the ceiling, running his calculations in his head, once again losing track of the people in front of him. The Head Custodian looks on incredulously, as Vaughn steps forward.~

Peter Vaughn: Excuse me, sir. You seem to be lost in thought. Can I help?

Specialist: Oh, no, Peter, I'm afraid not. Please stand to the side and be quiet for now.

~Vaughn immediately steps to the side and shuts his mouth. The Head Custodian shakes his head, not understanding this at all. He keeps blinking his eyes, as if trying to change what he's seeing.~

Head Custodian: What did you do to him?

~The Specialist's eyes brighten at the thought of explaining himself, something all scientists and programmers love to do.~

Specialist: Oh, it's been a brilliant process if I do say so myself. First off, I had to build this amazing complex you see all around you. Such computer power! You would think it'd be easy to string numerous servers together, but let me tell you, it's not. You know, they required I put in a fire suppression system when I was first getting this going? As if I could just have water sprinklers set up all around my babies! I'm certainly pleased that they agreed to the Halon system.

~He gestures to the wall, where a specialized button can be seen, covered up to avoid accidental pressing of it. He then points to the ceiling, where several nozzles are sticking out.~

Specialist: Why worry about water when you can deprive the fire of oxygen? Oh yes, it's a thrilling system if I do say so myself, and I'm the one talking, so of course that's what I'm going to do! Hah!

Head Custodian: You're rambling, you idiot. I want to know what you did to Vaughn!

Specialist: *Ahem* Right, right. Well, you see, I have spent a lot of time designing my duplication program, utilizing the special effects of virtual reality. It's taken a great deal of work, let me tell you, but now it's possible to connect to a person's mind and map it out, saving as much of it as you want! It was all ready for a test subject, but it's not like I could use a rat or a chimpanzee, could I? I needed something with a much more complicated thought process... and that's when I realized how perfect Mr. Vaughn would be! Physically fit, mentally vulnerable, it was perfect!

~The Specialist walks over to Vaughn, who's still following orders, being completely silent.~

Specialist: You know, the test was supposed to be complete almost simultaneously. Once I had the brain patterns mapped out, which I had previously obtained through Vaughn's earlier long trips through the VR, it should have been a flawless procedure. But there are always hidden traps, aren't there? I never expected wet hair to cause such a fuss! No one was more surprised than I to be contacted when Mr. Vaughn became 'trapped' in the system the way he did, causing such a feedback loop. What a surprise, am I right?

~He laughs, but no one else joins in. That's not too surprising, since the Head Custodian looks disgusted while Vaughn's still silenced. It doesn't bother the Specialist, as he finishes his laughter.~

Head Custodian: So when you came in... you lied to me about what happened.

Specialist: Well, I couldn't very well tell you the truth, could I? Hah hah hah! No, I had to pretend the safety measures were down, which they technically were. After all, I couldn't succeed with them on, could I? But I waited to reinstitute them until I could give my program a helping hand, stopping the real Vaughn from acting long enough... for him to fall.

~For a moment, the Head Custodian strains at his bonds, trying to break free, with no success. He's blinking rapidly, clearly upset, with the Specialist keeping on his absent-minded professor smile.~

Specialist: It all worked out in the end. The process has been shown to work. The test was successful! My figure here was able to keep all of Vaughn's memories, while staying completely obedient to me and follow his processes to a successful conclusion. He even defeated Vita Valenteen, a major accomplishment for me, I'm sure. Now, he was a little shaky being a referee, but I didn't program that into him, did I? At least he got past it without any serious damage done. I'd still call that a major success, wouldn't you? Ahhh, it's so wonderful to be validated!

~The Specialist stares at Vaughn with pride, perfectly content with what he's done. Meanwhile, the Head Custodian's right hand is now wriggling away on the arm rest of the chair, having readjusted it so he can begin working at the strap holding him with what appears to be a small blade, standard issue for any Custodian. He also continues to blink rapidly... seemingly in a distinct pattern, now that we're watching for it. Something flashes from one of his eyes, showing the contact that he's currently wearing, a technological innovation that we've seen before in Vaughn's eyes. We cut away from the scene, appearing briefly in the Custodial Coalition main headquarters. We see a man running up to check the computer, silencing the alarm.~

Bill: What the... the Head Custodian's in trouble! Jimmy, start the trace immediately! Tell me when it's narrowed down a location, I'm headed for the rescue truck!

~Bill runs out of the room, as the other man slips into place, typing in the commands to start the trace to locate the Head Custodian. He fails to notice the blinking light on the system next to him, which shows that the VR system is still active, even with no one else plugged in.~

Peter Vaughn: WAAAHHHHOOOO!!!!

~Vaughn flies wildly between the legs of an AT-AT, barely avoiding a few close blasts. He seems to be weaving a pattern, straining even in ghost form. Did you know ghosts could sweat? Apparently, it's true, at least in this world, as Vaughn is definitely exerting himself. He dodges another attempted strike and does another figure eight between the legs, before suddenly squeezing his fist tightly together as he swings past the AT-AT. Suddenly, all four legs get yanked together, thanks to the lines of Force that Vaughn was able to concentrate on, spacing them out enough to take down the monstrosity. The AT-AT topples to its side, out of control... hitting a second AT-AT that was trying to maneuver in to help. The two walkers crash together, exploding, as Vaughn moves further away, out of range.~

Peter Vaughn: That's right! THAT'S RIGHT!! Who needs ropes or cords, you sons of bitches?? I'm one with the Force, and the Force is in me, so suck it!!

~Vaughn flies on, somehow still keeping himself flying above the snow. His indominable will has kept him going against the odds, shockingly enabling him to take down a lot of the foes facing him. But he knows more could appear at any minute, even if he's not letting it dampen his spirits.~

Peter Vaughn: Who else you got for me? Oh, this next walker wants some? Let's pull something from Naruto, then, shall we?

~Vaughn smirks, raising his hands and making a specific gesture. Even though it's not necessarily connected to Star Wars, the program seems to allow it, as suddenly there are hundreds of Vaughns skating across the ice and snow. Hey, Skywalker did it in one of the movies, after all. The walker, confused, begins blasting away, but it keeps missing, hitting holograms. It doesn't notice that one Vaughn stands further back, raising his hands and reaching out with one hand.~

Peter Vaughn: I'm crushing your head... crushing... crushing...

~With the movement completed, the walker's head does, indeed, flatten out, causing a series of sparks and explosions. The walker falls forward, erupting when it hits the ground. It's not going to be getting back up, ever. Vaughn stops, breathing heavily, as he looks around for what's next. A smaller AT-ST is standing nearby, almost looking like it's shaking in fear. Vaughn grins at it, waiting for it to make its move.~

AT-ST: Unknown program continues to show unusual characteristics, making deletion extremely difficult. Larger methods are required. Rerouting system, rerouting system, rerouting...

~With a sudden pop, the AT-ST disappears. Vaughn laughs, loving seeing them on the run.~

Peter Vaughn: That's right! You're facing the Superstar, The Mechanic, the Four-Time World Champion! You can't handle this! You've got nothing! Noth....

~Vaughn glances upwards, his words sputtering to a stop. The camera veers upwards to see what he's looking at...

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~We see a moon moving into distance above Hoth. Unfortunately, that's no moon. It's a Death Star, one of the deadliest weapons in the Empire's arsenal. It slowly slides into position above Hoth, as Vaughn can only stand there, too far away to do anything.~

Peter Vaughn: Well... damn... wonder if a Force ghost needs air...

~The Death Star begins powering up, as Vaughn braces himself. He has nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.~

Sometimes you find yourself just wishing to be done with everything and be back home. Guess you feel that way too sometimes, eh, Mac?

Congrats on the ranch. It's actually pretty cool that you and I both had similar ideas. Of course, I bet you bought more of a working ranch, the way it's running now. I had a complete rebuild on my hands. I've got the ranch house worked out exactly as I wanted, with all the new construction done. I paved the roads and fenced off the land I bought. But I haven't quite gotten to raising animals or doing any farming yet. Being a full-time wrestler in multiple feds kind of makes it hard for me to get that going. Got any recommendations on a good foreman who might be able to do that for me?

And no, I'm not offering you the job. Obviously, you've got your hands full, too.

It's been pretty sweet, starting to build up a dream place for me to live in Texas. For so many years, I went paycheck-to-paycheck in various apartments around the globe, getting as close as I could to the arenas I was regularly competing in. But the successes as of late have really changed that, especially the $3 million I got for winning the PWV Roth Invitational Tournament. It's allowed me to live a fuller life, or at least finally dream of living that life once I get through with winning the next several championships and building my legacy to greater heights.

While the money I'll gain for becoming the Supercontinental Champion isn't a major factor in my competitiveness in this contest, it's certainly not a non-factor, either. I'm not looking to be a James Raven, jet-setting everywhere and showing off my wealth. But I do want to continue to grow my value, even as I grow my reputation. So chalk that up there, Mac: I'm in it for the money as well. Not being greedy, just stating a fact.

Really, it's not like I need anything else to motivate me against you. There are so many factors already in play, influences that will make sure I give you 110% in our ladder match. Admittedly, some of that might be CCPE. After all, we ARE in competition there, somewhat. You know you'd love to be declared the headliner of CCPE. You had it for a brief time, in my view, after I lost my belts. But then you lost to Knox, SEB fell to Knox, and suddenly the door's wide open, isn't it? I win the Supercontinental Championship, and suddenly I'm a person Chris Page can glowingly talk about when he's pitching his gig to other wrestlers.

After all, we've got to replace that waste of space, Elijah, don't we?

So yeah, I'm definitely motivated to use every trick I've got for a ladder match, if it means I get out of there as the victor and the champion. It's kind of nice, isn't it, not hating each other yet still being willing to break each other's necks? Somehow, it makes it feel more civilized. Here's to hearing a few cracks after a twist, Mac.

Head Custodian: So you think you've pulled it off?

~The Head Custodian keeps blinking his eyes, trying to keep his attempts at communication hidden from the Specialist. The man doesn't seem too concerned, as he's once again drifting back into thought.~

Specialist: Well, it hasn't been flawless, I will admit. I'm surprised that Vaughn decided to attack you, rather than try some other method to bring you to me. I'm also rather interested to know how you figured him out.

Head Custodian: It was just... something wasn't right. But I wasn't sure about anything. Otherwise, I would have been watching out for a strike to the head.

~Vaughn winces at that one. He seems to be experiencing more and more regret, possibly because he was told never to harm anyone. His reasoning about 'not injuring' the Head Custodian seems to be falling apart. But the Specialist doesn't appear to notice Vaughn's facial expressions, any more than he sees the blinking.~

Specialist: Well, it was the first time I tried this. Bound to be some slips, right? But everything can be improved over time, oh yes...

Head Custodian: Do you hear yourself? You're talking about interfering with people's lives! Destroying them!

Specialist: Sometimes, good sir, a few eggs much be broken to make the best omelet! What matters is what can be done with this technology! Why, what if it could retrieve someone from a coma? Reprogram a serial rapist to never look at a woman again? Remove someone's suicidal thoughts to make them a perfect, functional human being?

Head Custodian: But it sounds like it's at the cost of their souls!

Specialist: What drivel! Souls are completely made up. All that matters is the science! You'll see.

~The Specialist steps around the Head Custodian, grabbing a piece of equipment off the table. He places it on the surprised man's head, attaching the strap underneath. Despite his best efforts, the Head Custodian can't get it off.~

Specialist: I've been needing a new test subject, anyway. Once I have your brain waves scanned and processed, we'll be ready for your deep dive... and then you won't care anymore about what's happened, no you won't...

~As the Specialist turns on the equipment, the Head Custodian fights to get free... but he still hasn't removed enough of the straps yet to prevent what's happening to him. Peter Vaughn just watches, a solemn look on his face as he considers what's happening in front of him.~

~Vaughn stares upwards at the Death Star's approach, knowing the green beam of light will be forming soon. He braces himself... then realizes that he can hear something else, something... in the far distance... ~

Master Cleaner: ... got him... He's... have to do something about... first...

Peter Vaughn: Master Cleaner? Where... okay, guess I need to go back to the Force again...

~Vaughn closes his eyes, letting his spirit drift. He feels his essence zooming upwards, towards the Death Star... and towards a single craft that has been weaving its way through TIE fighters above the planet. The camera zooms in, showing an X-Wing starfighter, flown by the Master Cleaner. He is showing pinpoint control as he heads in at the Death Star, typing on the keyboard that's appeared in front of him while simultaneously flying the craft away from any explosions. This man has amazing multitasking talent. He heads towards a specific trench, using a lens that comes down across his eyes.~

Peter Vaughn: Use the Force, MC...

~The Master Cleaner jumps, looking around him for a second and seeing nothing.~

Master Cleaner: What?

Peter Vaughn: I said... Use the Force, MC...

Master Cleaner: Vaughn? How are you talking to me?

Peter Vaughn: Don't you remember Obi-wan talking to Skywalker? Anything they can do, I can do better... so use the force and blow this thing so we can all go home!

Master Cleaner: I don't need the Force. I've got technology. So if you'll excuse me, I need to fire off this command that'll end the anti-virus assault on you.

Peter Vaughn: Oh... uh, yeah, that works, too.

~The Master Cleaner finishes typing and hits the Enter key. Immediately, two torpedoes fire off from the X-Wing, apparently representing the command. They fly into the Death Star, as the Master Cleaner veers off from the trench. The explosion comes much like you would expect, with the Death Star being blown into a million pieces. The X-Wing heads down to the planet, ending up next to where Vaughn is currently floating. The Master Cleaner pops out, looking at Vaughn for a few seconds before walking over to him.~

Master Cleaner: So wait, you actually died?

Peter Vaughn: The other me cheated.

Master Cleaner: Uh huh... well, we can fix that. It'll just take a little time.

Peter Vaughn: Time might be a problem. I really need to get out of here so I can go wrestle Vita. I really want that title shot.

Master Cleaner: ... We have a lot to talk about, Vaughn, with much I don't understand. But honestly, I'm not sure how much time we have, so let's just keep things moving, shall we?

~Confused, the ghost of Peter Vaughn can only nod as the Master Cleaner begins to work his magic, holding the ultimate power of this virtual reality at his fingertips.~

It was amazing to be in a man's thoughts, ever so briefly. I wonder what Whisper thinks of yours, Mac?

Yeah, I know you've got this telepathic tattoo thing going, and I could ridicule it, but after everything I've been involved with? I'm the last person to do that. I do have questions, though. When you're sitting on the golden throne, for example, and you're reaching to wipe your butt, does Whisper receive any of your thoughts? I know that's a great place to think. And how about in the ring? If I blast you with a ladder to the face, will Whisper feel it? Will she get the shockwaves if you end up over the ropes and going through a table, with splinters embedded in your spine? If I set you on fire, will she burn? Or can you cut it off when you're going down the aisle, ready to fight?

I guess you probably don't have those answers yet, since this is so new to you. Okay, well, I'll help you find that out, hopefully with little damage to Whisper. She helped me with a rescue a while back, so I still owe her in some ways, so I'd really rather the only pain she feels is sympathy pains for what you're going through. Hey, let's try something right now.

...

Did you receive that message I sent you? Did you feel anything different, like someone walking over your grave? If you did, I guess it worked, because I'm definitely planning on beating you down, Mac, and it could very well lead to the grave if things get out of control. Hey, if you're in a coma, will Whisper still be able to talk to you? Let's hope we don't find out, right? I'd say neither of us wants that. But things happen when you take the Plunge, so I guess we'll see how things... and thoughts... shake out after this contest is over.

Just think happy thoughts. For Whisper's sake.

~The Head Custodian strains at the straps holding him down, feeling them start to give... but it may already be too late. The Specialist watches as the data pours over the screen, bringing a wide grin to his face.~

Specialist: Impressive! I do believe your data is more complex than the wrestler, although, really, are any of us surprised? Ho ho!

Head Custodian: You don't... have to do this...

Specialist: But I do, my friend! You'll understand! As my new test subject, you're going to get plenty of attention, after all!

Peter Vaughn: Excuse me... sir...

~Surprised, the Specialist glances over at Vaughn, who has stepped away from the wall.~

Specialist: I do believe I ordered you to be quiet, did I not?

Peter Vaughn: You said to be "quiet for now". That left an unknown time variable. I have a question.

Specialist: Well, well, most intriguing! Yes, Mr. Vaughn, what is your question?

Peter Vaughn: If HC is your test subject now... what does that make me?

Specialist: Ahhh... a very good question indeed! What does that make you, you ask? I'd say it makes you... expendable...

~The Specialist reaches to the side, opening a cabinet and pulling out a semi-automatic revolver. He checks the load, then hands it to Vaughn, who takes it willingly.~

Specialist: Sometimes that happens with the first tests. Regrettable, but unavoidable. You, Mr. Vaughn, will need to terminate yourself.

~The Head Custodian's eyes bulge in shock as he raises up, looking over at Vaughn, who stares at the gun in his hands. He raises it up, pointing it at his temple, as the Specialist continues to grin. We fade out.~

Threaded Mode \| Linear Mode Dealing With Our Reality, P2
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